DAY #86: March 27, 2009 - Luke 1:39-56

The interweaving of the lives of Elizabeth and Mary before their children were born is a touching picture of God’s grace upon his servants. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. How they must have talked, wondering at what God was doing in their lives and what he was planning for their very special children.

Elizabeth had not even yet been told that Mary was pregnant. Elizabeth spoke words given to her by the Spirit as she recognized Mary’s blessed condition, knowing that Mary had been specially chosen by God, much as Elizabeth had.

The Holy Spirit reveled to Elizabeth the identity of Mary’s child, for she knew that this child was also blessed—God’s Son, the promised Messiah, with a unique identity and role to fulfill. Mary would be the mother of the Lord. Mary humbly understood that she was just a lowly servant girl chosen by God. She recognized that what he was doing in her life would have a profound impact on the world and future generations. Mary focused on God’s power, holiness, and mercy. Her insight into God’s character formed the basis for her confidence in him.

Mary pictured God’s strength, in her poetic words, as being revealed to the sinful world as he scatters the proud, brings down the princes, and sends the rich away with empty hands. By contrast, God’s power shows in his mercy to his own—lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things. Oh what a God we serve.

Because travel was not easy, long visits were customary. Mary must have been a great help to Elizabeth, who was experiencing the discomforts of being pregnant in her old age. In addition, Elizabeth certainly helped Mary. During these three months, Mary surely discussed with Elizabeth how to handle what would be an extremely difficult social predicament. She would have to return home and explain her pregnancy to her family and her fiancé. When Mary went back to her own home, three months pregnant, she would be even more strengthened in her faith by Elizabeth’s faith, ready to face all that the future would hold.

SO WHAT? (what will I with what I have read today?)

Once again, I am so impressed with the faith and life of Mary and Elizabeth. Thank God for these women. The picture of thier friendship and mutual encourgament is one we need to take to heart. We need each other. We are better together. We can't practice all of the "one-anothers" of the New Testament on our own. Lord, contiue to build the fellowship and community here at COV.

Lord, keeping nudging the people of COV to join a LIFE group, drop their guard, open their hearts and let people into their lives.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:34-35

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:10

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:16

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another…” Romans 14:13

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

“… serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Hebrews 10:24

“Brothers, do not slander one another…” James 4:11

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

“… All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:11-12

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5