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Jun 06, 2023 18:30pm

A New Way of Life

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A tin can clanked to the ground. Dust whirled through the encampment as men put a few more logs on the embers of yesterday’s fire. A pot was placed over the fire to heat water for coffee.

They’d need it.

For five days, five long days, the soldiers had camped in this valley waiting for orders.

The men milled about, some cleaning their weapons, reloading with gun powder, and others played a game of poker on some cut logs.

The general’s brow furrowed as worry sank deeper in his thoughts.

“Where could they be? Did something happen to them? This is rough terrain. A wild animal could have caught them. Or they could have been hijacked on the trail, robbed, shot, any manner of things.”

And then, a trail of dust began to form in the distance. A rider was coming. It could be an enemy. But oh how he hoped it was the news he had been waiting for.

“It’s one of ours sir! He’s got news!”

Finally. Communication had come. The letter revealed help was on the way. Their hope for peace and a new way of life was just ahead.

“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 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: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
Luke 1:39-44

What an awesome moment in history! As we read about this encounter, several key points are unveiled.

Elizabeth did not know Mary was pregnant. Mary had been told by the angel that Elisabeth was and she traveled to visit her. Maybe it was to help get prepared for the coming baby. But God used it for something even greater.

And John, the unborn baby of Elisabeth and Zacharias, leaps in his mother’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice. He didn’t know her, but he knew who was within her.

Remember what the angel had told Zacharias? That his son John would go before the Lord, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. This man wasn’t even out of the womb yet and he was already doing just that! How incredible!

Just like our messenger riding in with good news, John was already communicating that the King was coming! Help was on the way! Their hope for peace and a new way of life was just ahead. And it came in that one person, the baby that was within Mary…Jesus.

John was created for a purpose. And from the beginning, he was doing it! He was proclaiming the good news that Jesus was coming!

We are created for a purpose, too.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10

Glorify God.
Praise Him for the free gift of salvation through belief.
Go and share the Good news of Christ with all people.

If a baby can do it, why can’t we?

I pray that we will be obedient to God and be ready to share the news that someone is so desperately waiting for. Help is on the way. Jesus is coming! He offers peace and a new way of life! Salvation is here!