Obedient Godly Women of Old...Mary and Elisabeth
Greetings sisters in Christ,
Today I want to look at a couple obedient godly woman of old, Mary and Elisabeth, the mother of Jesus and her cousin. I'm doing them both as they are tied together in scripture. I'm sure as I go through these women of old, there would be much more input if us sisters were sitting together sharing our perspectives but it's only me and I'll share what I have.
In Luke 1 we see the God working through Zacharias and Elisabeth in the conception of John. Note vs 6:
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
That's a mighty high commendation, one that I would strive for. It says in the 6th month from the conception of John that an angel (Gabriel) was sent to Mary, who was espoused to Joseph.
Gabriel's words to her say that she is highly favored and the Lord is with her, blessed art thou among women. For God to send His angel to declare those praises to her is a mighty compliment to the godly actions of Mary, in her love for God. Then when she's afraid, he said she's found favor with God; another high praise from God Himself!
God had very high standards, specific requirements for the priests, how much more would there be for the virgin who would carry the one who would be called the Son of God? Keep in mind this is under the Old Testament law before it was written on their hearts and Mary was called blessed and favored.
We see Gabriel saying that her cousin Elisabeth conceived a son in her old age and then assured her that with God nothing shall be impossible. How gracious of our Father to give her comfort and consolation of such a miracle that is only possible with God. What did Mary say as he departed?
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word."
She immediately submitted her will to God. (If you read earlier in the chapter, Zacharias didn't believe and was made mute, this shows even more contrast to the greatness of Mary's faith in God.)
Next we see her visiting Elisabeth during her last 3 months of of carrying John.
As Mary was carrying Jesus and met with Elisabeth, the babe leaped in the womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. What a profound moment for those women!
Mary goes on to speak greatly about the Lord, for all generations after her, to read. She talks of how God has scattered the proud and exalted them of low degree (referencing her previous statement in vs 48 about her low estate as a handmaiden)...basically lifting up the lowly and casting down the proud. It makes me think of Luke 16:15
'for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.' Man tends to life up the lofty, smart, successful etc and look down up on the lowly whereas our Father does the opposite. I also think of the publican in Luke 18 who asks for mercy, confessing himself a sinner vs the proud pharisee.
Our Savior of the world was brought forth through a lowly handmaiden. How encouraging for us sisters. I don't know about you but growing up and through most of my life I was counted one of the very lowly (poor, looked down on. There was a brief part of my life, right before Christ, that I rose in the status of man's eyes, to a lofty proud position but praise God it was never ingrained in my heart and I knew I was not truly inside who I'd become outside. God saw that and I was given the chance to become a daughter of the most High. Praise God for all you sisters who have gone through the same, being brought from death to life! Mary was given the opportunity to carry the Son of God and we are given the opportunity to carry the Holy Spirit!
God took care of Mary by telling Joseph the truth about what was going on. We can only surmise that by Joseph's initial response of not wanting to make her a public example that she must have been noble in his eyes, to the point of doing it privately. Praise God, he even took care of her by telling Joseph the truth, who then took her as his wife.
Luke 2:5 says Mary was 'great with child' when they went to be taxed. I can't imagine travel back in that time while being at then end of a pregnancy, it's hard enough traveling in a car for long distances, not to mention the way they traveled.
I've thought about how there was no room for them at the Inn and where Jesus said that the son of man has nowhere to lay his head in Luke 9:58. His life started that way and ended that way.
Because this is about Mary and Elisabeth, I won't go into the details of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2) but will say that both Mary and Joseph 'marvelled at those things which were spoken of him (Jesus).'
Later on we see, as Jesus grew, he tarried in Jerusalem, causing Mary and Joseph to come back and find him. After Mary asks him why, he says:
How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Mary and Joseph didn't understand but Mary 'kept all these sayings in her heart' (Luke 2:51)
We see Mary with Jesus from birth, to the cross and into Acts 1 with the brethren, showing her steadfast love of God through her life.
I want to make a note here in sadness of how Mary has been lifted up by man, above our Savior in today's world. The unbiblical roman catholic church has made her into an idol which is blasphemy against God. We see it happening in
Luke 11:27
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
And what does Jesus say?
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. Vs 28
No, we are not to compare ourselves with others but we can be encouraged to press on based on their life and how they lived. Both Mary and Elisabeth's lives are great examples to help encourage us godly women to press on.
Have a joyous evening sisters!
(Another picture of Gods beautiful creation from a saint in a far away land.)
Love and blessings to you,
Sister Deb
Today I want to look at a couple obedient godly woman of old, Mary and Elisabeth, the mother of Jesus and her cousin. I'm doing them both as they are tied together in scripture. I'm sure as I go through these women of old, there would be much more input if us sisters were sitting together sharing our perspectives but it's only me and I'll share what I have.
In Luke 1 we see the God working through Zacharias and Elisabeth in the conception of John. Note vs 6:
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
That's a mighty high commendation, one that I would strive for. It says in the 6th month from the conception of John that an angel (Gabriel) was sent to Mary, who was espoused to Joseph.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:28-38Gabriel's words to her say that she is highly favored and the Lord is with her, blessed art thou among women. For God to send His angel to declare those praises to her is a mighty compliment to the godly actions of Mary, in her love for God. Then when she's afraid, he said she's found favor with God; another high praise from God Himself!
God had very high standards, specific requirements for the priests, how much more would there be for the virgin who would carry the one who would be called the Son of God? Keep in mind this is under the Old Testament law before it was written on their hearts and Mary was called blessed and favored.
We see Gabriel saying that her cousin Elisabeth conceived a son in her old age and then assured her that with God nothing shall be impossible. How gracious of our Father to give her comfort and consolation of such a miracle that is only possible with God. What did Mary say as he departed?
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word."
She immediately submitted her will to God. (If you read earlier in the chapter, Zacharias didn't believe and was made mute, this shows even more contrast to the greatness of Mary's faith in God.)
Next we see her visiting Elisabeth during her last 3 months of of carrying John.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Luke 1As Mary was carrying Jesus and met with Elisabeth, the babe leaped in the womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. What a profound moment for those women!
Mary goes on to speak greatly about the Lord, for all generations after her, to read. She talks of how God has scattered the proud and exalted them of low degree (referencing her previous statement in vs 48 about her low estate as a handmaiden)...basically lifting up the lowly and casting down the proud. It makes me think of Luke 16:15
'for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.' Man tends to life up the lofty, smart, successful etc and look down up on the lowly whereas our Father does the opposite. I also think of the publican in Luke 18 who asks for mercy, confessing himself a sinner vs the proud pharisee.
Our Savior of the world was brought forth through a lowly handmaiden. How encouraging for us sisters. I don't know about you but growing up and through most of my life I was counted one of the very lowly (poor, looked down on. There was a brief part of my life, right before Christ, that I rose in the status of man's eyes, to a lofty proud position but praise God it was never ingrained in my heart and I knew I was not truly inside who I'd become outside. God saw that and I was given the chance to become a daughter of the most High. Praise God for all you sisters who have gone through the same, being brought from death to life! Mary was given the opportunity to carry the Son of God and we are given the opportunity to carry the Holy Spirit!
God took care of Mary by telling Joseph the truth about what was going on. We can only surmise that by Joseph's initial response of not wanting to make her a public example that she must have been noble in his eyes, to the point of doing it privately. Praise God, he even took care of her by telling Joseph the truth, who then took her as his wife.
Luke 2:5 says Mary was 'great with child' when they went to be taxed. I can't imagine travel back in that time while being at then end of a pregnancy, it's hard enough traveling in a car for long distances, not to mention the way they traveled.
I've thought about how there was no room for them at the Inn and where Jesus said that the son of man has nowhere to lay his head in Luke 9:58. His life started that way and ended that way.
Because this is about Mary and Elisabeth, I won't go into the details of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2) but will say that both Mary and Joseph 'marvelled at those things which were spoken of him (Jesus).'
Later on we see, as Jesus grew, he tarried in Jerusalem, causing Mary and Joseph to come back and find him. After Mary asks him why, he says:
How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Mary and Joseph didn't understand but Mary 'kept all these sayings in her heart' (Luke 2:51)
We see Mary with Jesus from birth, to the cross and into Acts 1 with the brethren, showing her steadfast love of God through her life.
I want to make a note here in sadness of how Mary has been lifted up by man, above our Savior in today's world. The unbiblical roman catholic church has made her into an idol which is blasphemy against God. We see it happening in
Luke 11:27
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
And what does Jesus say?
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. Vs 28
No, we are not to compare ourselves with others but we can be encouraged to press on based on their life and how they lived. Both Mary and Elisabeth's lives are great examples to help encourage us godly women to press on.
Have a joyous evening sisters!
(Another picture of Gods beautiful creation from a saint in a far away land.)
Love and blessings to you,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...