Blessed Is She Who Believed

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Blessed Is She Who Believed

After Mary,  the mother of Jesus,  learned that her relative,  Elizabeth,  was pregnant with John the Baptist,  at her advanced age,  Mary went to visit Elizabeth.      As Elizabeth  welcomed Mary,  she said in Luke 1:45,

“And blessed is she  who believed  that there would be  a fulfillment  of what had been spoken to her  by the Lord.”

It truly is a blessing  to believe  what God Almighty says.      Everyone who believes  has a special assurance  and joy  as they realize  that God always  carries out His promises.      They know  they are not looking  to some man-made idea  of a god  or a myth.      Because they have the blessing  of knowing  the true God,  they have the peace  that passes all understanding.

So,  how do they know?      It is through  the whole Bible.      The Old Testament  presents many prophecies  that were written  over thousands of years  by many different prophets.      The New Testament  shows how those prophecies  came true  in the one man,  Jesus Christ.      It’s like setting forth  all sorts of evidence  to be examined  in a court case.      Some of the jurors  willingly make a decision  based on the evidence.      Other jurors  might prefer  to ignore the evidence  because of a prejudice,  a dislike for someone,  or a hatred of something.

There is a blessedness — a peace — a happiness — a satisfaction — in making a decision  that is not biased  with a hatred  or prejudice  against the evidence presented.      There is a blessedness  in making a decision  that is right and good — according to the truths  that are evident.

All those who believe  and trust  in the Lord  are blessed,  just as Mary was blessed.      Mary went through  some really scary experiences,  all the while  retaining her faith  and trust  in the Lord’s word.      Right after the magi  visited the Christ Child,  Joseph and Mary  had to escape to Egypt  with the Child,  because King Herod  was out to kill Him.      Then,  when King Herod died,  they returned to Israel,  but were afraid  to stay  in the Bethlehem area.

When Jesus was crucified,  Mary was there.      The pain in her heart  must have been terrible — but she retained  her faith and trust  in the word  of God.      We don’t hear any more about her,  but we do hear  about thousands of Christians,  who were tortured  and died  for their faith — all the while believing  and being blessed  regarding the truths  of God.

We look at our own lives.      Are we examining  all the evidences  God has laid out  before us?      Or,  do we prefer  to stick to  our uninformed opinions  based on hearsay  and the prejudice  of others?      Do we become hateful  because God wants us  to live in faith,  hope,  and love — obeying good commands  that care for one another?      Does our rebellion  against God’s ways  cause us  to reject  all the truths  presented  in the Bible?

That misses out  on all the blessedness  of believing  in the truths  that are eternal.

Being glad to live  in the blessedness  of believing,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  thank You  for giving us  so much evidence  of the truth  of Your salvation  by grace,  through faith alone.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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