A Miracle of Mercy

"Thus the Lord has done for me and looked upon me to take my reproach among the people (Luke 1:25)," Elizabeth - mother of John the Baptist.

Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed for children, longed for them, probably begged God to open Elizabeth's womb and bless them with fruit from their union.

They walked a hard road.

I've journeyed with friends and loved ones along that same road, felt the depth of the sorrow with empathy, and experienced a sense of guilt, when the Lord granted us the precious gift of babies. 

They, like others who've taken that journey, no doubt wondered at why God's hand seemed turned against them - after all, He is the very God who declared:

Children are a gift, a reward. 

So to not have a child is a punishment? A sign of displeasure? God's discontentment?

Yet, we know that can't be true.

The words the Lord wrote about Zechariah and Elizabeth (through the pen of Luke, the doctor) show us how pleased and beloved this couple were in God's eyes:

"They were BOTH righteous before the Lord, walking blamelessly in all His commandments...(Luke 1:6)"

However, to this aged couple, this wasn't their perspective, because the community around them made them feel shamed, rejected, and disgraced. 

I can hear the whispers, see the side-looks, the roll of the eyes that left Elizabeth feeling like she was NOT ENOUGH. 

Ah.... "But God!"

As with most of our suffering, we can't even begin to imagine what His thoughts and motives are... 

There's always a plan.

There's always a there and then, when all will make sense.

AND SO IT DID (even though, at first, Zechariah had a difficult time believing the words the angel spoke).

The "fulness of time had come."

The darkness and the silence of 400 years were about to be lifted.

Light would dawn.

The Lord needed a servant, a child raised by parents like Elizabeth and Zechariah, who would pour the TRUTH OF THE WORD into him.

A servant to walk the path in the same power of Elijah, to live out life as a Nazarite (and, filled with the Holy Spirit from birth), obediently willing to prepare the way for the Light to come. 

This boy would be raised to know from the earliest of days that he was a miracle of mercy, sent by God to bless his parents, and to smooth out the rough places for the Savior-to-come. 

This story is a challenge to us all. First:

Every child is a miracle of mercy.

John knew this truth before he learned to talk. 

This truth regarding his identity formed the path he walked.

This truth, alone, determined his outlook, his perspective on all things, and gave him meaningful purpose and validation. 

Aren't we all searching for meaningful purpose?

Every child is a miracle of mercy.

Every child is created in the image of God.

Every child should grow up knowing he/she has a God-ordained-purpose to fulfill. 

It won't look like John the Baptist's destiny.

It will be a uniquely-made-fit just for them; but, it will direct their paths, giving great fulfillment!

It's never too late to live in this identity truth.

You are created with purpose to fulfill! It goes without question...

...and, knowing it has certainly changed my trajectory (I couldn't be more content).

You, too, are a miracle of mercy - 

Let's walk together in that truth, and allow it to shape and mold our future.