December 4

Happy Wednesday of the week set aside to remember Hope came to us in the form of an infant. Yesterday, Shelby and I were talking about babies and she said “I just love babies!” All day, I kept thinking about that and wondered if there were those who didn’t. But I do know for sure, God loves babies. Whenever He is about to do something big, He always seemed to start with a baby; Isaac, Moses, Samuel...and when God himself put on flesh, he came as an infant. His cousin who was to be his herald also came as a miraculous infant. (““And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:76-77‬ ‭NLT‬‬). Our God who Interweaves theology with obstetrics must think that this thing of babies and birth is a pretty special thing. 


Babies are born every day, every minute, every second, but every one of those ordinary births is a miracle of life. God has decreed that these little ones are gifts directly from Him.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Jesús loved (and loves) the innocent children. 

“Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:36-37‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Zechariah, the Father of John the Baptist, understood a bit of what Mary and Elizabeth did. After John was born, it was revealed to him who John was going to be and who Mary’s baby was to be. Prophecy was being fulfilled right in front of his eyes and he got it. When I taught, I loved seeing that light-bulb moment in a student’s eyes. It was the reason I taught—for that one second of “Yes! I can’t imagine how much more wonderful it is for God when that happens for one of His own. When we “get it” and look up at Him. Don’t you know He loves that! 


“Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy: “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:67-69, 71-75‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Lord of Hope, thank you for coming as an innocent baby. Thank you for fulfilling the covenant you made with Abraham and for preparing the way for our salvation. What a great God you are and what an amazing way you created for us. How blessed we are to experience your great grace and your mercy that extends beyond all our shortcomings. How we need to refresh the truth of your birth during this season but also of your promise to come again. Help us Lord to absorb your word so that we would be ready in a moment to extend it to others we see everyday. Forgive us where we have failed. We love you and offer you all glory and praise. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam



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