Morning by Morning, December 9 - "One Day"
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the paths of Your righteousness today. ...
"When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple... While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar...." (Luke 1:5-11 NLT).
The story of the birth of Jesus is interwoven with the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Just as angelic, supernatural, miraculous events in the moving of the Holy Spirit surrounded the lives of Joseph and Mary in preparation for the birth of Jesus, it's the same for the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth in preparation for the birth of John.
"One day" the angel of the Lord showed up in Zechariah's life. He had been serving God, careful in obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness. Yet at the same time, we sense the heart and disappointment in his heart as he went about his life -- he and Elizabeth "had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old."
Their high hopes for a family with children were now "very old." Perhaps their disappointed expectations that by serving God and being good everything would go well were now "very old." And now their physical capacity to bring forth life to carry on their family line was "very old."
Yet at the same time, You are the God who makes all things new! (Revelation 21:5) You are the God who shows up "one day." And in "one day" You can change everything! One word from You, one moment in Your Presence, one encounter with Your supernatural provision can change it all in the twinkling of an eye!
Yes, You're the God who gives us grace to persevere in the long journey of daily life -- day by day, moment by moment, morning by morning. Even life in the Spirit is more of a marathon than a sprint. But You're also the God who gives us grace to encounter You in the sudden moments when everything changes in a minute. "One day" in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:10). And "one day" in Your Presence can make all the difference in our world.
"One day" You made a difference in Zechariah and Elizabeth's world -- Elizabeth bore a son and they named him John and he prepared the way of the Lord. "One day" You made a difference in Joseph and Mary's world -- Mary bore a Son and they named Him Jesus and He came as Savior of the World and Lord of All. And "one day" You can make a difference in our world -- when "one day" we encounter You in a way that changes everything in a moment and we birth what Your Holy Spirit has conceived in the hearts of every one of us.
I'm thankful and grateful for all the other days, for every day, that I get to live with the deep and abiding peace of the assurance of my salvation. Yet at the same time, I'm also believing You've put it in my heart to pray for a day of a supernatural, life-changing encounter with You. As You invite us to pray, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3). And as You promise to respond, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Give me grace to believe with expectant faith for that "one day" of my encounter with You to come. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you believe with expectant faith for the day of your supernatural encounter with the Living God, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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