Focus

Let your soul take a moment of rest as you hear God’s word. Put your busy schedule, wandering mind, stressful thoughts, and burdened heart at the feet of the cross and open up to God’s voice as the Giver of Life tends your soul.

Read

Luke 1:67-79 (NRSV)

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands 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
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Reflect

Zechariah and Elizabeth had long ago given up on the dream to have a child, but they had never let that unrealized dream get in the way of their relationship with God. They went on about their lives, doing what God had commanded them to do. Then, in God’s time, the blessing came to them. Zechariah, once again able to speak, could not keep quiet about God’s faithfulness as seen in God’s hand upon John’s life.

I’ve always loved Zechariah and Elizabeth. Robin and I can identify with them. For years, we tried to have children. Nothing. We tried with medical help. Nothing. We were told it was impossible. We finally figured out that God was calling us to adopt. So we sent in the applications, had the home study, got references from work, family, and friends, filled out mountains of paperwork, and then we waited. Nothing. The waiting continued. Nothing. After four years, we had pretty much given up on that dream. Then, in God’s time, the blessing of Benjamin entered our lives. Even though we are a little higher on the age scale than the average parent of a two-year-old, we know that just as God had a plan for Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John, God has plans for us, as well as for you.

Let us rejoice in God’s faithfulness and give thanks for the families with which God has blessed us (yes, even those crazy relatives). Let us hold to the promise that God has a plan for each of us, even the two-year-old who tries to take over each General Assembly he attends.

Pray

Almighty God, it is easy to think that sometimes you forget about us, but you never forget your children. In your timing, you allow your plan to play out in our lives. Thank you for our families, the blessings they bring, and for the role that each of us plays in your plans. Amen.

Go with God.