39. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40. where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43. But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44. As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45.Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
When Mary heard about Elizabeth and her situation, she wanted to go to see her as quickly as possible. She had a need that I believe is prompted by the Holy Spirit. Mary needed someone with whom she could talk, and share, and bear her heart. She needed someone who would understand
God calls us to faith together in fellowship. God calls people into fellowship and it is an important principle that if people do not come to you, you go to them. There are many who feel like others do not understand. Some may have lost loved ones this year. You need to go and share with someone who understands this unbearable loss with one who knows. Some feel unloved, there are many who share your feelings. Share them together. You are not alone.
Paul served as an important model when he was being troubled by rebels in Corinth. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:6 "We were afflicted at every turn, fighting without and fearing within. But God who comforts the downcast comforted us." and then he tells one of the ways God brought him comfort. It was by the coming of Titus, with whom he could share his need for Christian fellowship.
I read an article about Promise Keepers still keeping their promises. Christian men who agreed to meet regularly with other men to share thoughts, prayers, struggles, and ideas. I think important ministry happens when smaller groups meet and share in study, prayer, and discussion.
It takes courage to look at our inadequacies. By sharing with a confidential group, we find we are not alone. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Numerous Christmas stories speak of ways families seek to spend the holidays together. It uplifts family time. Some have no families. You will see more on the news between Thanksgiving and Christmas of food lines, shelters for the homeless, and holiday meals, where people with little fellowship at least have fellowship during this season. Cards are sent, photos are exchanged, notes are written, packages are exchanged, food is eaten. What makes this season different? God sought to fellowship with us by visiting our planet in the form of a baby.
Mary and Elizabeth share the greatest of fellowship with their pregnancies. Throughout the Bible God calls us to sharing. God created mankind foremost with His fellowship. He saw that it was good in having fellowship with another human being, so he created husband and wife. Jesus was sent to initiate spiritual fellowship with God among families and with the body of believers.
Application: Reach out to someone today who has lost a loved one.
Prayer: Lord, teach us how to bear one another’s burdens and give us the humility to seek others to help bear our burdens.
