[The following devotional was written by Wildwood Community Church Student Pastor Jonathan Holmes and is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide. We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]
Leaping for Joy by Jonathan Holmes
Read: Isaiah 40:3 (prophecy) & Luke 1:39-45, 57-66 (fulfillment)
Elizabeth, a relative of Mary’s, was past the natural pregnancy age and remained unable to have children. But six months earlier, Elizabeth found out she was pregnant as well. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb was John the Baptist who was coming to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry. As the women drew near to one another, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb “leaped for joy” and she began to shower blessings upon Mary and the unborn Jesus. During his ministry years later, Jesus would say of Elizabeth’s son that “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.”
Although the conversation between these pregnant mothers was rather simple, and the actions of Elizabeth’s unborn child were common to the behavior of any unborn child, the significance of this encounter was huge as the long-awaited birth of the coming Savior was already causing the world to stir with anticipation. John’s sole purpose was to prepare the way for Christ. Although still an unborn child, his very first encounter with Jesus caused John to leap for joy.
As we prepare our hearts through the Advent Season, may we prepare them to leap for joy. In just a few weeks we celebrate the birth of our Savior and there is no greater reason to be filled with joy than a reminder of our Savior’s first advent.
Question
- What is it about Jesus that brings joy to your heart?
Advent Prayers
- Spend some time praying for the Holy Spirit to move throughout our church.
- Pray that God will cause your heart to “leap for joy” as you await Jesus’ return with restless anticipation.
- Ask God to lead you in preparing the way for His return and what that will look like.