The Hope of Christmas
Good Morning Friends,
Perhaps you have seen the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. In it is a scene about a hopeless George Bailey about to take his life. What should have been an incredibly joyous time of the year was compounded by the poor circumstances of his life. His life was not turning out the way he was hoping. Other people’s lives had gotten in the way of what he wanted to do. He submitted to others. Then when he turned to the Lord it got worse. He feels the world would be better without him. Then a guardian angel shows him what the world would have been without him. Then he discovers The Hope of Christmas.
Scripture: In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:5-1:15 (NRSV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NRSV)
Message: Well, here is the situation. Zechariah and Elizabeth are blameless. They were following the Lord but were barren, and to be barren was considered a disgrace. They were in a hopeless situation due to no fault of their own. Sounds a little like George Bailey doesn’t it? Still they remained faithful. Thankfully they remained connected and faithfully focused on the Lord.
Here we discover that finding favor with God, like getting through times of uncertainty, requires a trust that has staying power. God’s response to this trust is grace. Here we discover that in the midst of crisis it is sometimes… almost always difficult to have all the right emotions…they come later. But nothing is impossible with God. In the process we learn that the prayers can be answered in the affirmative but we have to be willing to let God answer in His own time. Here we learn that God really does want to touch us and change our disappointment into His appointment, but we have to be willing to let God answer in His own way. Know this, God can breathe hope into the stale air of impossible solutions, but we have to be willing to let God answer in His own power. Sometimes it just comes down to our being willing to receive it but we have to be willing to let God answer for His own purpose. We need patience. Friends, God has made a way for us to have hope in eternity by believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and believing in the work He did, dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead to defeat death for those who believe in Him. It takes no work, no effort on our own part to receive this gift, the hope of eternal life. It takes receiving it by believing. But God has also provided hope for now for those who walk in faith. We have a hope that God can work every circumstance that we are facing that is bad, and He will work it for our good and His glory as we continue to walk in faith. So be faithful. Surround yourself with those who can help you keep focused and serve Him so that you can be in the place where God can do a miracle in you and through you. Walk in faith and you will walk in hope. Walk with God. Christmas is coming.
Pray we believe that with God’s help, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Pray we realize that each person’s life touches many other lives in ways not visible until they are gone. Pray we realize that no person is a failure if they have friends. Pray we believe that God is calling us to be an instrument of His will. Pray that we believe that God, in an act of extraordinary love, sent His son to save us and bring us peace. Pray we acknowledge that we must trust that God will answer our prayers in a way that is best for us and most useful to His plan. Pray we grow in faith and mature in our relationships bringing glory to God and a witness of Jesus in our lives. Praise God because He visits us, redeems us, bring us salvation and keeps His promises by extending to us the privilege of serving Him. Pray for the Kingdom to come. Pray for acts of grace in our lives. Pray that when we wrestle with the consequences we have the right perspective. Pray this season that our disappointment is turned into God’s appointment. Pray our hearts are cultivated with a childlike expectancy. Pray we live life as though everything is a miracle. Pray we all are engaged in a story of hope.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 