Listen HERE
Sacred Echo
.png)
Sacred Echo. Remember my Oh My Stars friend I told you about before? She’s the same one who, through another dear friend, shared with us the term Sacred Echo (she, getting it from yet another godly woman). When God brings something from His Word, the voice of His truth, to you in repeat, we affectionately refer to it as a Sacred Echo.
I think we can hear a sacred Echo in Mary’s words from these verses here in Luke 1:41-45
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:41-45
Remember what God has said
Mary finally got to Elizabeth’s home. Do you imagine she was a bit tired from the days long journey? Was morning sickness, or the new pregnancy fatigue kicking it yet? Either way, for the fact she made haste to get there she had to be thrilled to arrive, we would be foolish to think otherwise. She walks in and right away, though it’s Elizabeth’s voice this time, God starts talking to her again: sacred echo.
Wombs Full
Oh my goodness, one of my favorite parts of being pregnant was feeling my babies as they moved in utero. Just as Mary’s feet hit the floor of her home, Elizabeth realizes God’s faithfulness.
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:15
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
God’s spirit was continuing on with the messages Gabriel had brought to these two women in the recent past. And it wasn’t coming to an end here and now, or in any foreseeable time ahead.
Echo, Echo, Echo
Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:42
Sounds familiar.
And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
Luke 1:28
Elizabeth’s words were echoing God’s message through Gabriel.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:31-33
Was Mary astonished as she was when she heard Gabriel’s words saying the same? Maybe she was settled in her heart realizing that God is doing a great work in her life, and confirming it again and again. That friend she needed, like no other could be-in the flesh because of circumstances, divine circumstances, but even more so in God’s Spirit as no one else had the words from the Lord that Elizabeth did. Elizabeth was a faithful servant of the Lord, and Mary needed her to be.
I am telling you this as sure as sure can be, God still does this. Our Father who is the same yesterday, today and forever, still uses His faithful people to do His work. Do you have a friend who needs you?
Somewhat silly here, but I write a Christmas letter each year to go with my cards. Our oldest son got married this year, and his bride’s wedding was beautiful, and big. We endured great expense in the process, so, I decided last week I wouldn’t send cards. What a relief, financially speaking: cards, stamps etc. And what a relief of time that seems to be running more quickly than ever through my days. Except the Holy Spirit interrupted my halt and I’ve got cards coming to me, late as they will be going out: God knows why and I’m just trying to be faithful. It’s been such a hard year for so many. Who am I to hide God’s light under a bush when I have opportunity to share His goodness? And I encourage you to listen for God’s still small voice in your heart, too. God still uses faithful servants, and people around us still need to hear from God through us, as He wills.
And Big Encouragement
Not only did her cousin continue to echo God’s very truth to Mary’s heart, but she also closes with a big encouragement to Mary. We’ve all had hard things to do in life. Today, as I told you, a friend will be sitting in the middle of a cemetery next to her young husband’s body as she and her sons say their final earthly good-bye to her husband and their dad. Why is this something the Lord is allowing in their lives, I have no idea. At all. But what I do know for a fact is that she needs an Elizabeth in her life. Someone who is faithfully walking with the Lord and who can share God’s truths with her over her life, as He leads. Add to those sweet sacred echos this:
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1:45
There WILL BE fulfillment of those things the Lord told her. If Mary was feeling overwhelmed with all the details that flooded her mind after her big life changing news hit her heart, if she was feeling like this was an impossible feat, if she was afraid she’d be able to do all that was put in front of her to do, Elizabeth just sang sweet, sweet music to her ears: God is faithful, BELIEVE HIM, and He will see these things to completion.
Believe
‘Tis the season to Believe. We know this world, our personal lives, will have trials and tribulations. By their very definitions, they’re impossibly difficult to muster. We can’t do it alone. We need God. Faithful friends are so important, too-to be and to have, but in their absence we still can get through the most difficult and heart wrenching life stuff because GOD will see us through to completion of the things He’s promised.
Promises Promises
I don’t have time to go verse by verse through the promises God gives to us who Believe- who love Him, who have a relationship with Him: our real, personal, perfect, loving Heavenly Father. But you should. Open your Bible, go to biblehub or blueletterbible on the web and sink into His word. But today, let’s look at this very promise hanging in the balance at Mary’s surrender more than 2000 years ago.
Jesus.
The promise of eternal life through this baby born in a manger is where we need to go. It’s what we need to believe. It’s who is the answer to each of our heart breaks, our impossibles and our I just can nots. Jesus. HE has overcome the world.
Mary, Martha and their Brother
You know Lazarus, right? Mary and Martha loved Jesus, born of Mary. They found themselves in a cemetery of sorts, too. Their brother lay dead and the blame was placed on Jesus not showing up on time.
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:17-24
Martha distracted again. Some of us take a few tries to learn the most valuable lessons. Here again, Martha doesn’t sit still and remember who her Lord Jesus is, she gets overtaken by the trouble thereof. BUT, look at verse 24 for a glimpse of her knowledge of the Savior.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 17:24
Even though this is not the point Christ is trying to make to her, and He makes it clear in the next sentence, we get a peek into the mind of Martha regarding scripture and Jesus’ ministry. She KNEW that Belivers would rise again with Jesus’ return. He hadn’t even died, and she knew what we read about and wait for today. Jesus will return and we will rise to meet Him. Glory hallelujah! Jesus continues.
Do You Believe?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 11: 25-27
May He overwhelm your heart as you Believe in Him. Born King of Kings that man no more shall die. This Jesus we Believe in is going to take care of us. Believe that today.
And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:26
