58 "Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy." 65 "The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him."
These verses emphasize how contagious God is! Not only did the news of John's birth spread like wild fire, but so did the joy. We, Christians are the opposite sometimes. We don't share or even show the joy or love of Christ to those around us. So to everyone else, we look like non-believers. That is soooooo sad!
When the neighbors saw and heard about Zechariah, theys were "filled with awe...and were talking about all these things". I don't think it was just because Zechariah started talking again but because he "..began to speak, praising God." as soon as his mouth was opened and tongue loosened (and goes on prophesying!)
Let's not be silent and spread His contagious, wonderful love this Christmas!
3 comments:
thank you innie for your insight today. there was real community in that "hill country of judea" as evidenced by the way the neighbors and relatives shared elizabeth's joy. certainly the birth of john was a cause for rejoicing but if they only knew what a momentous thing had really happened! the child had been brought miraculously into the world, appointed by God Himself to make straight the paths to the Lord. he was a very special child indeed. Jesus later says that of all those born of women there was none greater than john the baptist.
Thanks for your post today innie :-)
You make a great point that often times there is a lack of joy in the Christian community. There are many things that we ought to rejoice about, but we are often blinded by the negative things in life that consume our every thought. Knowing God alone should cause us to rejoice on a daily basis, but we are not moved.
The joy that was shared by all the neighbors and relatives of Judea is the very same joy that we could celebrating as well. The Lord's great mercy upon our lives and those around us.
thank you for an uplifting message... joy to the world!
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