Thursday, December 5, 2013

Advent Devotional Day 5: Gee, Thanks, God, for Broadcasting My Embarrassing Secret

December 5:
B.C. verse: Luke 1: 5-10
A.D. verse: Matthew 6:33; Luke 18:27
Christmas hymn: “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Hymn for today: “How Great Thou Art” and “Lift Up My Life” by Unspoken

Jim and Shelly* were married about the same time that Mike and I were. Even though they wanted children, unexplained infertility had left them childless. A somewhat private couple, they kept their sadness over this fact to themselves and made the best of the situation by enjoying their nieces and nephews. After a few years, they completed the necessary adoption forms and waited for the call.

For whatever reason, the call never came, and at about the time Jim and Shelly were turning 40, they mutually realized that it was time to sit down and have a serious talk. Rather than sit, however, they went out for a walk. It was a mild Sunday afternoon as they strolled around their neighborhood. Their discussion centered around the fact that they had been on the adoption waiting list for quite some time with no results. Now that they were 40, they reluctantly reasoned that maybe it was time for them to take their names off the list.

In the today’s verses from Luke, we read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. They both “were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all the Lord’s Commandments and regulations” (v. 6). We also know that they “had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were very old” (v. 7).

As I was reading, I was struck by a couple of facts. First, Elizabeth, not Zechariah, is the main focus of the passage. SHE was “from the priestly line of Aaron” (v 5); SHE is the direct lineage of Christ. Likewise, the Bible makes it very clear that their infertility issues were not a 50/50 problem. It says “Elizabeth was unable to conceive.”  If I was Elizabeth, I might be thinking, “Gee, thanks, God, for broadcasting my embarrassing secret.” The last thing that is emphasized in this passage is that both Elizabeth and her husband lived righteously in God’s eyes (v. 6).

In considering her starring role in today’s passage, I wanted to know more about Elizabeth, so I looked up the definition of her name. Tracing etymologies is a happy task for a word freak like me, and names, especially, are rich in linguistic history. Back in the day, naming was more involved and purposeful than it is now. A name, in many ways, foretold the character or destiny of person, and this was certainly true for Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth” is derived from the Hebrew, “Elisheba,” which means “oath or fullness of God.” An oath is “a promise, often evoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future.” Fullness refers to being complete, filled to the utmost capacity, satisfied and content. What a perfect name for such a key player in Christ’s birth story. In spite of her infertility, she remained righteous – content, fulfilled, and obedient – in God’s eyes. And as we know (even though it isn’t a part of today’s reading), she plays a pivotal role in the fulfillment of God’s promise, or oath, to Israel.

Elizabeth’s example reinforces the second verse for believers today: “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). Ok, Elizabeth ended up getting pregnant even though the expiration date on her eggs was long gone. Does that mean that couples with infertility struggles are being punished for a lack of faith? That’s a ridiculous question. Of course not. God does not have a holiness scale by which He doles out reward and punishment.

While hopes and dreams reflect the desires of our hearts, this verse does not say that God will give us everything we WANT; instead, it says that He will give us what we NEED. Likewise, this verse is not about what WE THINK we need. That is not seeking God first; that is putting ourselves first and demanding that God follow our lead. Elizabeth earned a starring role because she decided to put God first and trusted that He knew best with regard to what she needed. Being content even when your heart’s desires are unfulfilled is not easy, but it denotes spiritual maturity; it requires absolute trust and sacrifice of self, but it is the only place where true joy can be found.

As to Jim and Shelly, their story has quite the ending. As they returned home from the walk, the phone was ringing. It was the adoption agency. A woman had just given birth to a baby girl, and she had chosen them as the adoptive parents. They needed to get in the car immediately to drive to the hospital to pick up their new daughter. Their prayers had been answered. . .but the story doesn’t end there. A couple of years later, Shelly became pregnant, and now they are the parents of two lovely, lively little girls. 

Even when the doors and windows of our hopes and dreams may seem firmly closed and locked, it’s important to remember that God is the architect and builder. “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Whether He chooses to unlock them, rebuild them, or seal them, we are assured that whatever He decides is exactly what we need.

Daily Challenge: Write a letter or note today to someone who has made a difference/impacted your life.

*Not their real names. They are real people who are friends of ours.


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