Christmas: it’s about community.
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
It’s not always possible to find resilience on our own; we need community. God often protects the purpose He is growing by providing friends to stand as watchmen around it.
Only days after Mary encountered the angel messenger, she “hurried to the hill country” to be with her relative and friend Elizabeth (Luke 1:39). Elizabeth couldn’t possibly have known that Mary was pregnant because back then there were no phones, no postal service, no way of sending word ahead of time. And yet when Elizabeth encountered Mary at the door, she was overwhelmed with prophetic revelation: “Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?” (Luke 1:43). Elizabeth was the first to recognize the supernatural evidence of Christ’s coming. Even when the rest of the world assumed Mary had betrayed Joseph and was pregnant with an illegitimate child, Elizabeth recognized and affirmed the calling on Mary’s life.
Mary Elizabeth Baxter writes, “All unworthy in themselves, but wondrously privileged by God, the mother of the Messiah and the mother of His forerunner understood Him, and understood one another.” God provided community between these women to fortify the purpose He was unfolding.
We, too, are called to invest in life-giving, purpose-awakening community. Matthew Henry urges, “Those that have experienced the performance of God’s promises themselves should encourage others to hope that he will be as good as his word to them also.”
How can you invest in community this Christmas season? Who can you strategically affirm and encourage?
Bekah DiFelice
