Great Plains Daily Devotional for 12/8/2018

Today please be in prayer for

Omaha Olive Crest UMC
Missouri River District
Burchard UMC
DuBois UMC
Pawnee City First UMC
Missouri River District
Plattsmouth First UMC
Missouri River District
Ralston Trinity UMC
Missouri River District

Today's Lectionary Text

Luke 1:68-79 

“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.”

Today's Devotional

On this date 40 years ago, our fourth child, a son, was born. Just like Zacharias from our reading today, we were excited about what the future would hold for our son. We named him Timothy, perhaps having visions of him sitting at the feet of his mother and grandmother learning about our Lord, as did Timothy in the New Testament, one of Paul’s closest companions. In giving birth to our son near Christmastime, I was able to relate to how Mary must have felt when her son, Jesus, was born. In fact, being members of a small church, we portrayed the holy family at our church’s Christmas program that year. Our son did grow up knowing the Lord, and now, as an adult, is a strong Christian leader for his family and for the middle school and high school students that he teaches.
 
Zacharias prophesied about the coming Savior from the royal line of his servant David, someone to save us from our enemies. Zacharias’ little son, who we know as John the Baptist, was to be the prophet who was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He would “give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” This was another prophecy from the Old Testament that was coming true, and Zacharias praised God for that revelation.
 -Linda Rector, University UMC, Wichita

Prayer for Reflection

Thank you, God, that we no longer have to live in darkness and be separated from you and that you loved us so much that you sent your son, Jesus, so that we can live in His light, bringing us salvation and peace. Help us to live bold and courageous lives and tell others about your love for us. Amen.
 

 

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