November 23, 2021 | Luke 1

Read Luke 1

Scripture- Luke 1:25- “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” 

Observations- Being childless in the Old Testament times meant more than just not fitting in. The belief was that you must have sinned or done something to make God punish you in this way. That of course wasn’t the case, but that was the belief. No matter how many times she denied doing something to deserve it, people didn’t believe it. There was shame and embarrassment everywhere Elizabeth went. But the Lord took away her disgrace through this miraculous baby, John the Baptist. She had no control over it. She physically couldn’t take this disgrace away. It was the Lord and him alone who took away her disgrace. 

Application- My disgrace, my shame, comes generally from saying something that I shouldn’t have. Words are so powerful. They have the ability to crush or heal. They have the ability to spread gossip like a wildfire torching the person’s heart. When I think of my day, I generally think of the things I shouldn’t have said. More generally, I stand before God with all kinds of disgrace. He sees every sinful thought, word, or action. Every single sin is a disgrace to him. Like Elizabeth, I’m powerless to change anything about this situation. I can’t remove the disgrace from myself. But, the Lord has taken away my disgrace. He himself has removed that disgrace and shame and by placing it on his one and only Son, Jesus. His grace has removed my disgrace! I live in the joy that brings to me today! 

Prayer- Father, I am so thankful today for your love and forgiveness. I am powerless to remove any of the disgrace that I have brought upon myself. But you, in your grace, have removed it from me through Jesus! This is the whole reason for the season. Thank you for bringing me this joy today. Amen.