'When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.' (Luke 1:41)
I love this verse! Luke paints a picture of unrestrained joy. In the presence of Jesus, his cosin John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother's womb. Even before he is born and named, John knows that he is in the presence of the Son of God. John has 'met' Jesus and his life would never be the same again.
I can still vividly remember the time I asked Jesus into my life. I was 13 years old, lying on a camp bed in the annexe of my parent's caravan at a Keswick convention in Victoria. My prayer was simply, 'God, if you are real, I want you in my life.' Nothing sophisticated, but certainly heartfelt. I will never, ever forget the feeling of unrestrained joy that swept over me in that moment and the minutes after. I could not stop the tears. I had met Jesus and my life would never be the same.
Jesus is in the habit of surprising people with joy (thank you CS Lewis). It makes sense. When we know and experience the love of our Creator in such a personal way we cannot help but respond with delight. I give me life to seeing others have their own joy-filled encounter with Jesus.
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