The sweaty blogger!

Man o' man is it ever hot out there today! I am sure glad to be back inside where it is a little cooler. I have been a little slack with my blogging lately, it's really no excuse but I have been very busy with other things. The important part is I am back at it today though. Today I just thought I'd look at back at a passage of scripture that I had overlooked, but it was brought to my attention on the radio recently. I must say it is quite a profound passage and I am not sure how I managed to miss the significance before now. Well before I ramble on, the passage I am referring to is:

• Luke 1:39-45 39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 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. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

In case you aren't familiar with this bit here, the babe Elizabeth is caring is John The Baptist. It isn't real clear how much time had lapsed since Gabriel visited Mary and The Holy Spirit came upon her to make her with child, but it reads like it was a short time. So what we have here is Mary carrying a recently conceived Jesus meeting Elizabeth with John The Baptist 6 months into her pregnancy. Even before his birth John was overcome with joy at the presence of our Lord and Saviour. This obviously flies in the face of those who are "pro-choice". See they would like to say a child is not alive until it is born. But according to this passage John was very much alive in his mother's womb. So alive he felt joy by the presence of Jesus Christ. We can even go a little deeper here, Jesus was newly conceived when Mary made this journey, yet John was able to recognize His presence. This is pretty amazing to me. Pro-choicers would have considered Mary a good candidate for abortion, claiming what was in her womb was not yet a life. Yet John knew not only was it a life, but this child was The Life.

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

I like to close on a positive note. If you have not noticed I have been using Paul's writings for this. Most of his letters close with a positive up lifting scripture. So here is another:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.