Luke 1:43-45
Last time began a journey; following Mary on her way to all that the Lord had for her. The trip started with a bit of fear, but hope pushed the fear away. Have you ever been in a place where you are feeling hopeful but then doubt starts to creep in? The next step isn’t clear, you worry that you will be the right turn off or that whatever brought you hope to start with might not be true. I know I do and so like Mary I look for road signs.
As reassurance that all he had said to come to pass Gabriel had told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was having a baby in her old age in answer to her own earnest prayers. In a way Gabriel was telling Mary - look for the road sign that say peace ahead. After her chat with the angel Mary got ready and headed for the hill country to see Elizabeth. It turns out that Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s “Hello, Elizabeth I’ve come to visit” is the road sign Gabriel had spoken about. That where we join this leg of Mary’s journey.
Keep in mind, there is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate that anyone else knew about Gabriel’s visit to Mary or that she had been chosen to carry God’s Son. What reason did she give her family for wanting and needing to go and visit Elizabeth? Whatever she said, she left quickly and upon arrival was met with confirmation of what the angel had said. Elizabeth was indeed pregnant in her old age and with a special child as well. A child already filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb. Elizabeth’s response confirms that Mary is already pregnant with the Son of the Most High. I can imagine the peace she must have felt as she understood she hadn’t dreamt the angel encounter - it was all true and that by going to Elizabeth she hadn’t missed the road sign the angel told her to look for.
Have you ever been in a place where finally you are feeling hopeful and hope filled only to have doubt try to creep in, bring fear along with it? Keep an eye out for the road sign that says peace ahead. It might be a word in the Scripture that chases the fear and doubt out replacing it with peace. More than likely it will be someone or something that confirms the reason for hope and upon that build up peace.
Last time began a journey; following Mary on her way to all that the Lord had for her. The trip started with a bit of fear, but hope pushed the fear away. Have you ever been in a place where you are feeling hopeful but then doubt starts to creep in? The next step isn’t clear, you worry that you will be the right turn off or that whatever brought you hope to start with might not be true. I know I do and so like Mary I look for road signs.
As reassurance that all he had said to come to pass Gabriel had told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was having a baby in her old age in answer to her own earnest prayers. In a way Gabriel was telling Mary - look for the road sign that say peace ahead. After her chat with the angel Mary got ready and headed for the hill country to see Elizabeth. It turns out that Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s “Hello, Elizabeth I’ve come to visit” is the road sign Gabriel had spoken about. That where we join this leg of Mary’s journey.
Keep in mind, there is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate that anyone else knew about Gabriel’s visit to Mary or that she had been chosen to carry God’s Son. What reason did she give her family for wanting and needing to go and visit Elizabeth? Whatever she said, she left quickly and upon arrival was met with confirmation of what the angel had said. Elizabeth was indeed pregnant in her old age and with a special child as well. A child already filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb. Elizabeth’s response confirms that Mary is already pregnant with the Son of the Most High. I can imagine the peace she must have felt as she understood she hadn’t dreamt the angel encounter - it was all true and that by going to Elizabeth she hadn’t missed the road sign the angel told her to look for.
Have you ever been in a place where finally you are feeling hopeful and hope filled only to have doubt try to creep in, bring fear along with it? Keep an eye out for the road sign that says peace ahead. It might be a word in the Scripture that chases the fear and doubt out replacing it with peace. More than likely it will be someone or something that confirms the reason for hope and upon that build up peace.
We have hope and the journey is leading to peace. Be watching for the road sign - Peace ahead.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for understanding that even though we have hope, we often begin to have doubts. Thank you for putting road signs in our life that will encourage us, confirm for us that we are on the right road and lead us to a place of peace in the journey. Show us how we can be a road sign of peace ahead to those around us who are in danger of losing hope. In the name of Jesus, The road sign for peace ahead – Amen.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for understanding that even though we have hope, we often begin to have doubts. Thank you for putting road signs in our life that will encourage us, confirm for us that we are on the right road and lead us to a place of peace in the journey. Show us how we can be a road sign of peace ahead to those around us who are in danger of losing hope. In the name of Jesus, The road sign for peace ahead – Amen.
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