Day 199

October 1, 2020

Months ago, we began with reflections called, “Days of Hope”, then were encouraged to “Be in the Word.” Today we embark on a new study, “Jesus our Hope: The Word made Flesh.”

It's been more than 50 days since the last daily devotional, closing our study of the books of the minor prophets. But for the people of Israel, it had been over 400 years since the prophet Malachi had declared those last precious words from God. The words that proclaimed the promise of the long-awaited Messiah that was to come.

Today, we begin a series in the gospels, which speak of the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. And as we too have experienced a period of waiting during this age of COVID, let us not grow weary, but fix our eyes on the one thing that can truly fill us with hope and peace: Jesus, our Prince of Peace.

“And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.” - Luke 1:10

The priest Zechariah had been chosen to burn the incense that day in the temple. It was a wonderful honor and as he prayed and burned the incense inside, the worshipers prayed outside.

In the Bible, incense is often connected to prayer. In fact, Psalm 141:2 says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” And Revelation 8:4 tells us that, “The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.” Our prayers rise up before God like incense, which when it comes from a pure heart, is beautiful and fragrant to God. It pleases Him.

The Lord answered the collective prayers of the people the day that Zechariah offered the incense. The people had been waiting and praying for the day when the Lord would redeem them. Although they didn’t know it yet, He answered this prayer by setting in motion the events that would lead to the birth of the Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ. But the Lord also answered the personal prayer of Zechariah: he would have a son. Like Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament, Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were well beyond the years of having children. And yet, God answered this desire of their heart, not only in miraculously giving them a son, but a special son who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah Jesus by calling the people to repentance.

Let us not give up praying. Let your prayers continually rise up before God because through Jesus, we have access to the Father. Jesus, our hope and Redeemer has made a way for us and is continually interceding for us before the Father. He calls us to lift up our prayers and the Father, because of Christ, is pleased to receive them.

We don’t have to be professional priests and ministers like Zechariah. Remember, the people were praying “outside.” All of us can pray collectively for our nation. We certainly need them in these times. But it is also appropriate and good to pray individual prayers for ourselves. He hears us. Even as all the people on that day in ancient Israel prayed, the angel answered Zechariah by saying, “your prayer has been heard.” Zechariah’s one deep solitary prayer for a child.

God is both the God who answers the prayers of a nation and delivers them from their afflictions, but He is also the God of the individual who desires to hear your deepest cries and will answer in just the right way. He is your HOPE. Speak to Him today.

Today, Read Luke 1.