What a Child

 “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:44)

Moments before she gave herself to miraculously conceive and give birth to the Christ-child, the angel Gabriel told Mary that her aged cousin carried a son in her once barren womb. Mary wanted to share in her cousin’s joy, and upon entering her home with a greeting, Elisabeth’s six-month-unborn baby leaped with joy, and the Holy Spirit filled her.

How could an unborn child in his mother’s womb, a baby whose vision is not yet clear, recognize or sense the presence of The Holy One? What child, unborn, could stir another unborn baby to such joy? Only God. Did John leap in the womb with joy in worship, or was he in awe of the One for whom he would prepare the world for His coming? Both reasons were cause for his exceeding gladness that made him jump! Mary joined Elisabeth and baby John in praising God as she broke out into song, rejoicing in God her Savior (vs. 44-55).

As God’s children, the Holy Spirit, dwells within us. Has an awareness of God’s presence ever roused your spirit to leap and moved you to exciting worship? Did you honor the Father and follow through in praise, break out in song as Mary did, or do both? Or did you squelch the moment, not wanting to express your emotions openly or offend anyone nearby? If the latter happened, you quenched the Holy Spirit, insulted God, and robbed yourself of a blessing.