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“As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a
joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more
children than the woman who lives with her husband!”” Galatians 4:27
Nothing says hopelessness like broken dreams.
Ask the woman who longs to have a baby
but no matter how much she and her husband try, pregnancy doesn’t happen.
Ask the young couple whose excitement over the birth of a child see the hopes dashed by a
miscarriage or still birth.
Ask the spouse who is body slammed by unexpected divorce papers.
Ask the patient given a diagnosis of incurable cancer. As the addict who relapses time and
again.
Ask the pastor who gave is best to ministry and is rejected by the very people he prayed
over, cried with and sacrificed for.
Abraham’s wife, Sarah, knew about hopelessness. She loved Abraham. He was strong,
wise and successful as a shepherd. As a husband he was loving, kind and gentle. But
perhaps his strongest trait was his deep faith in God.
More than anything else, Sarah
wanted to give him the baby he longed for, to give him opportunity to leave a strong, godly
legacy.
It’s no wonder she grew excited when Abraham came home from an impromptu
meeting with God to announce that a baby would soon be felt kicking in Sarah’s womb.
Soon a son would be drinking at her breast. Soon her dream of motherhood would come to
fruition.
Although the couple would do what any of us would do, take matters into our own hands,
God’s promise would be fulfilled in his time, in his way, for his glory.
That’s grace. Grace
gives new life to broken dreams.
In spite of their mistake, grace gave new life to broken
dreams.
He can do that for you too, you know. He understands your weakness. He isn’t surprised by
your failure. His plan won’t be thwarted. No matter how far you stray, he calls you home
and welcomes you into his arms.
Grace Nugget: Grace gives new life to broken dreams.
“These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.” Galatians 4:24-25
Have you ever tried to order something online and had your payment rejected? Maybe the account you were trying to draw from didn’t have enough money, or the card you tried to use was expired or you missed a number, etc.
There can be all sorts of reasons your payment was rejected. But one thing is sure, you simply missed the standard of the payment process.
When God gave the law to the Hebrews in the Old Testament he set the standard of relationship with him. This standard allowed us to enjoy relationship with him. The payment process however was difficult for us to process. We needed help.
Then Jesus came. God didn’t change the requirements of the law, he simply changed the method of payment.
That’s grace. Grace allows us relationship with God through an empty tomb and a stamp that says “Paid in Full — Jesus”
Grace Nugget: Grace fulfills the payment plan God has for our present relationship and eternity with him.
“But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13
In the years before Jesus came there were many prophecies of his coming. Signs to look for. Times of good and bad; of victories and defeats, but no Messiah. Then came the 400 years of silence.
No words of the Messiah’s coming. No signs pointing to his arrival. No hope. People lived and died and were forgotten waiting for a promise that didn’t come.
Then he arrived! In the heaven’s the Father said it’s time and his plan began. Paul writes that all of creation groans waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Don’t grow weary.
Don’t grow apathetic.
Don’t lose focus or doubt.
Someday he will give the word again and his plan of salvation which began with an empty tomb will be fulfilled in victory. Our salvation has present blessings with eternal perspectives!
Hallelujah. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 