Luke 1:67-80
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Prophet of the Most High … John, known to us as John the Baptist, the one who would prepare the way for Jesus had come. And Zechariah’s only response was praise. That really is the only proper response to God and His Son, Jesus. In all of our realities, Jesus sines forth like a beacon of hope and light bringing salvation, peace, forgiveness, mercy, loving-kindness, and blessings. What else could Zechariah’s response have been for one who would point others to One so precious?
Take time now to sit in Jesus’ presence and praise Him for who He is. Then take a few moments and thank Him for His coming. Help prepare the way for Jesus’ coming for someone who doesn’t know Him this season by pointing them to His goodness, grace, and love.
Jesus, You are alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. You are the righteous counselor, deliverer and defender, the faithful One, full of grace and truth, kind and merciful, powerful, sovereign, and in control. Thank You for coming, living a sinless life, and going to a cross for me so that I could be saved from a life without You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Find joy in Jesus …
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