Morning by Morning, December 6 - The Redeemer of Hope in Our Hearts in This Season Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ... “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years” (Luke 1:5-7). The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus beginning with the story of John the Baptist, who would first “prepare the way of the Lord” for the coming of the Messiah, for the coming of Christ. And the story of John the Baptist begins with the story of his father, Zacharias, and his mother, Elizabeth. Though Zacharias and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God,” “they had no child.” “Elizabeth was barren.” In that day, to be “barren” would be seen as a great disappointment. It would even be seen by some as a judgment of God or a curse upon her life or their home. Elizabeth herself called her barrenness a “reproach among people” (v. 25). She had carried her “reproach” for a long time, because now she and her husband “were both well advanced in years.” Yet at least at some time or for season through those long years, Zacharias had prayed for a son (v. 13). And the story of the Gospel of Luke begins with “an angel of the Lord” coming to Zacharias as he offered up his prayers at “the alter of incense,” announcing to him, “Your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (v. 11-13). How often we give up on our prayers. How often human hearts, right up to the present day, belittle “our hopes and prayers” or mock “our thoughts and prayers” as if they have no meaning, no effect. Hopes and thoughts and prayers are foolishness to the world, a waste of time, just an excuse for inaction or empty expressions of helplessness. But You heard Zacharias’ prayers. You saw Elizabeth’s reproach. And You sent Your word; You sent Your angel of the Lord, to speak a word of promise for what was to come. You would turn their sorrow into joy, their reproach into honor. Their names would be remembered forever, forever sealed in Scripture and in the story of Jesus -- not as a symbol of the curse of God or the reproach of people, but as a symbol of hope and faith and the provision of the God who sees and answers, despite the delay of time and impossibility of the circumstances. As the angel of the Lord declared, “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice” at the birth of your son! (v. 14) I’m reminded of another prophecy that speaks of Your heart and Your power to turn despair into joy and reproach into honor from the words of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 54: “Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lord, your Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:1-8). You are our Redeemer. You are the God who sees us, who hears us, who answers us. You’re the God who turns our shame into praise and our hope deferred into answered prayers. You give us grace to overcome the waiting and doubting. And You answer according to Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way according to Your perfect plans. In many ways, the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, here at the beginning of the story of Jesus, is a prophetic picture of seasons of our journey and our story with Jesus as well. Let hope arise in our hearts, trusting our God who redeems, in this season of preparation for the coming of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be filled with hope, trusting in our God who redeems all things in His perfect timing, His perfect way, for His perfect plans, in Jesus' name. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org | 
