Get Ready!
Luke 1:57-58 (NKJV)
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered,
and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the
Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
Romans 12:15 (NKJV)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who
weep.
On a hot summer day, the most exciting sounds a child or
child like person can hear are the musical chimes of the ice cream truck. Like a
bright light to a moth, the music stops children in mid path and beckons them
with extreme force. Despite the fun of their current activity, the echo of
“ring around the rosie” bouncing through the neighborhood is like brakes on a
semi-truck.
You didn’t have to see the truck to get excited. All you had
to hear or know was that the truck was coming.
The old saying, “You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice
cream” is true! Everybody is screaming because everybody is getting something.
I argue that we need to start rejoicing when we recognize
God blessing our friends and family. There is no victory in pouting,
complaining, or worrying about when will you get what you believe you
deserve. The fact that God is
blessing your family is proof positive that He is on your pew, your block, your
street, or in your house. Your turn is coming!
In Romans, Paul charges the Roman church to move with
compassion. Rejoice and weep with others. As much as misery loves company, so
does joy. Stop being a fair-weather friend – be there through it all. Joy is
contagious – pass it on! Your turn is coming!
While Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, I am
confident people had their opinions.
After all it was baby John that leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when she met with the then pregnant Mary, the mother of Jesus. In verse 58 of Luke chapter 1 it says that God showed her
great mercy. I can only assume that the pregnancy was difficult based on that
statement. The moment Elizabeth’s baby was born, it wasn’t just her
family that got happy. Family is supposed to smile when good things happen to
relatives, but do you see that her neighbors got happy also? It's ok, you can cheer for
people you aren’t related to!
Your turn is coming! I hear the sound of blessings and all I
can tell you to do is get ready. God is on His way to meet you and He is carrying exactly
what you have been looking forward to. Rejoice with others and they will rejoice with you.