Luke 1:41-45 (NLT)
At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.
The passage above is one of my favorites. I mean, think about it. An unborn baby (the baby is alive in the womb) jumped for joy the instance Elizabeth heard the voice of Mary. Mary didn’t lay hands on her. She didn’t do anything for her. She spoke.
Isn’t that amazing? Is that not outstanding that Mary was so filled with the Holy Spirit that the very sound of her voice filled the baby within someone else with joy?
And the more I think about it, that’s a glowing example of how we are supposed to be as Christians. Something within people should cause them to leap with joy because of our Spirit-filled lives. And unfortunately, that hasn’t been happening.
When a Christian enters a room, other Christians should feel strengthened and empowered and anything that isn’t of God should feel threatened. If you aren’t a threat to Satan, chances are you’re not much of a thrill in your Kingdom work right now. Demons shouldn’t feel comfortable in your company.
I want people to leap when I enter. They should leap for joy of being empowered, or leap because the ungodly Spirit can’t stand to be around the godly Spirit in me. Where Christians are empowered, demons should be uncomfortable. And I don’t want it because of me, but because of what’s in me, the Holy Spirit.
Now that’s a true Leap Year.