Unexpected Blessing
Luke 1:8-20, 57-64
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
(Psalm 84:11b)
Nothing brings joy and blessing like the birth of a child - all the more when the arrival comes as a surprise after losing hope that it could ever happen.
Even hearing it from an angel, Zechariah had trouble believing that he and his wife Elizabeth would at last conceive. The angel Gabriel's message, however, was specific. They would have a son named John - a joy and delight to this upright priest and his wife, who blamelessly followed God's law. John would be great in the eyes of the Lord, set apart for God, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
What a gift John must have been to his late-in-life parents as they watched him grow and as they nurtured his faith, knowing that he would someday become "a prophet of the Most High" preparing the way for the Redeemer, as prophesied.
That amazing gift of new birth takes place in our hearts, too, when we are born again in Christ. Eternal life, made possible by His incomparable love and saving grace, is given to us. And it's ours for the receiving. Will you accept Jesus now?
INSIGHT
"LIKE ANY OTHER GIFT, THE GIFT OF GRACE CAN ONLY BE YOURS IF YOU REACH OUT AND TAKE IT."
(FREDERICK BUECHNER)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 5-6
Psalm 45
Luke 8
Luke 1:8-20
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.[a] 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 1:15 Or from his mother’s womb
Luke 1:57-64
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.
GOD IS MY HUSBAND
with Ann Spangler
The relationship between God and his people is a marriage. Always the faithful husband, God refuses to let go of his people despite their betrayal. Have you ever thought about God in this way?
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