April 2010 - Encouragement
God wants us to encourage one another. In Luke 1 the Lord goes out of His way to demonstrate how important it is to be understood and strengthened. We learn this lesson from Mary and Elizabeth.
In verse 23 Zechariah, having seen a vision while serving in the Temple, goes home. His wife becomes pregnant (could be what the vision was about) and immediately Elizabeth goes into seclusion. Maybe she needed to keep her feet up for 5 months! At any rate, when Mary was being instructed about her situation, the angel said a very endearing thing, " even your relative Elizabeth is going to have a child in her old age..." v. 36. After the angel left her, Mary immediately ran to see Elizabeth. Not her mom, not the Temple, not her girlfriends, but her aunt. How awesome! She "hurried" to no doubt share the amazing miracle with her aunt. The angel didn't say that she bore John the Baptist, it didn't matter. Mary, the young excited somewhat fearful teen and Elizabeth, the faithful sage who no doubt couldn't wipe the smile off of her face! How precious must have been their 3 months together. How Elizabeth must have rehearsed such wise advice to her privileged niece. And Mary with so many questions, may have spent many hours ministering to her aged aunt. How they must have worshiped and visualized the future of their chosen ones.
All of this took place because God knew they would need each other. He literally PUT THEM together to minister and encourage each other.
What about your relationships? Do you see them as a gift, given divinely for eternal purposes? As surely as God put Mary and Elizabeth together, He has put you in your world to strengthen and encourage those around you. Don't miss it.
Dear God, Help me to see the significance of the relationships in my life. I either take them for granted, or simply refuse to see their divine purpose. Lord, I don't want to experience the 'you don't know what you have until it's gone' thing. Open my eyes to see your plan and purpose for those around me. Amen