Great Plains Daily Devotional for 1/9/2019

Luke 1:67-79 

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.”

Zechariah was left speechless because of his encounter with the angel Gabriel (see Luke 1: 8-10).  It is magnificent that Zechariah received a prophesy of the Messiah. Zechariah could only share the good news!  We live in a society where it is acceptable and even encouraged to cast hatred, bias, and judgement against our neighbor.  As believers in Christ we are called to boldly share the Good News of the Gospel for all to hear! We must purge from evil that tells others that they are not loved because of their social statuses, and boldly proclaim that God created us in His perfect image.

When Zechariah could say nothing at all he was left to sing praise and prophesy.  Is there an issue today that God is calling you to speak out for? How can we witness like Zechariah?  I must also mention that Zechariah and Elizabeth influenced John the Baptist to be a prophetic leader?  In Luke 3:3, John the Baptist went around the Jordan river sharing a message of repenting from one’s sins and being forgiven.   What would the world be like if believers marched up and down the streets proclaim God’s love and a message of repentance of sins?  It indeed is not an easy or convenient time to be a Christian.  But there are many souls that have not been filled with the Holy Spirit.  We must be like these biblical characters and grandly share the Word!

We seem to operate in a society that focuses on condemning one another instead of embracing the love and grace that God freely gives.  instead of focusing on factors that cause division such as political affiliations, and social stratifications we must embrace the positive qualities that the Triune God blessed us with.  

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-13
Matthew 2:1-12