The first person to praise Jesus was an unborn child!

[Joseph G]

Luke 1:41-42 NIV​

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

 

[AlexB23]

Luke 1:41-42 NIV​

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

I like this one. Here is how the verse relates to modern society:

Luke 1:41-42 describes an encounter between Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. When Mary visited Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John, the unborn child in Elizabeth's womb "leaped for joy" (Luke 1:41) upon hearing Mary's voice. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:42-43).

In a modern context, this passage highlights the unique status and significance of unborn children. The fact that John, still in his mother's womb, recognized Jesus as the Lord and reacted with joy speaks volumes about their inherent value and personhood. This is an essential concept when discussing unborn children's rights, as it emphasizes that they are not merely potential life but rather individual beings deserving of protection and respect.

In today's society, there is ongoing debate regarding the rights and protections afforded to unborn children. Some argue that their lives begin at conception and deserve full legal recognition, while others believe that fetal rights should be secondary to the autonomy of the pregnant woman. Regardless of one's stance on this issue, we should recognize the importance and potential of every human life, including those that are still developing in their mother's wombs.

The story of Mary and Elizabeth offers a powerful reminder of the intrinsic value of unborn children, as John's reaction to Jesus in utero underscores their personhood and significance. It serves as a call to respect and protect the rights of unborn children, acknowledging that they are deserving of love, care, and consideration from the moment of conception*.

*However, in cases where both mother and child are at risk, exceptions can be made to save one of the two lives.

 

[Joseph G]

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

 

[AlexB23]

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

I like this verse also. In Jeremiah 1:5, God speaks to the prophet Jeremiah and reveals to him that before he was born, God had already chosen and set him apart for a special purpose: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

This verse highlights God's sovereignty and foreknowledge. He knew Jeremiah even before he was born, and He had a plan for his life from the very beginning. The verse also underscores God's calling on Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, meaning that he would speak God's messages to other countries and peoples.

Jeremiah's call to be a prophet was not an easy one, as the book of Jeremiah records many instances of his struggles and opposition. However, this verse reminds us that God has a plan for each of our lives and that He knows us intimately, even before we were born. It also serves as an encouragement to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when the road ahead may seem uncertain or difficult.