Exuberant

Luke 1:39-45 (Message)

Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You're so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?

The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,

The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!

"Mary didn't waste a minute."

Have you ever wanted to see someone that badly?

Sometimes, certain things can happen: a smell, a sight, a joke, the return to a special place ---- and we just really want to be back together with a person or people, that we love.

Mary and Elizabeth shared a special, common bond.

They were expecting. And the circumstances were unusual and powerful.

Even the babies they carried were somehow bound together. And there was joy in being together.

The joyous meeting between Elizabeth and Mary, and the transcendent connection of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, ought to remind us of what being together as the church can be all about.

We're called to be the body of believers, and great joy and "exuberance" ought to mark our gatherings.

I'm proud of the exuberance and laughter that fills the gatherings that happen at our church. When we "meet 'n greet" in worship, it's not easy to regain control. That's not a bad thing.

We enjoy each other's company, and that's good. But even better, like Mary and Elizabeth, we should be people who share a common sense that God is doing something special among us.

We have reason to sing, and smile, and be genuinely happy in each other's presence.

Give each other that gift this Sunday at worship, and remember that joy is the mark of a Jesus-follower.

Prayer: God, we ask that you would give us the gift of joy. Help us to follow you with passion and exuberance. With thankful hearts, we look forward to the next time that we will see our brothers and sisters in the family of Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

We'll see you in worship this week at SOTH! Youth Director Mike Adkins will be doing the preaching, so come out and find out more of what Mike is all about as he delivers a great message to the SOTH family.

Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.

No Blog entries next week, as the family and I spend some Sabbath-taking time on vacation. Look for entries to begin again on Monday, April 14. And as always, thanks for reading along, "On the Path of Life...Together."