In the story of the first Christmas, Elizabeth is unique in her experience. Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah all get supernatural visitations. But Elizabeth has no angel who visits. She has the word of Zechariah (by note, no doubt) about how God has begun to move in the life of Israel and in the life of their family. She also has a mature spiritual sensitivity that clearly sees the hand of God in their circumstances. What makes up this spiritual sensitivity?

1. Doctrine-She and her husband were true Old Testament believers. She knew the promises of the coming Messiah, the nature of the babe in Mary’s womb, the prophecy of Malachi regarding the role her own son would play as forerunner of Christ.
2. Faith and Expectation- she hid herself from the prying eyes of others as she eagerly awaited the promise of God to take away her reproach.
3. Experience- her life of righteousness, her old age, and her barrenness had led her to this place. She had made it a habit of trusting God for what she couldn’t see.
4. Humility- when Mary arrives, she recognizes that she and her child would both serve the Babe in Mary’s womb. Pride would have blinded her to the ways of God.
5. The filling of the Holy Spirit- a careful walk of obedience allows the Holy Spirit freedom to announce blessing over Mary.
6. Celebration- the babe (John the Baptist) leaped for joy in the womb and Elizabeth recognized that joy. She spoke with wonder (Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?) and with grace (Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

What do you see in the life of Elizabeth that displays her spiritual sensitivity (faith)?