"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" By Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson: Luke 1:65-67 & 76-79

 December 15

​"... And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then will this child be?' For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

​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, through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." -Luke 1:65-67 & 76-79 (RSV)

​Have you ever dreaded silence? It can be productive. Zechariah had been unable to speak for 9 months after the angel appeared to him in the Temple announcing his wife Elizabeth would bear a son in their old age. As a well educated priest he realized Isaiah's prophecy was being fulfilled through the strange, unexpected, miraculous events occurring around him. At his son's birth, his lips were opened and he praised God with beauty and power in his first words after months of silence. Luke records his famous song now called the Benedictus after the first words in the Latin translation of today's text. Zechariah prophesied the coming of a Savior who would redeem his people and predicted his son, John, would prepare the Messiah's way. It appeared the Old Testament prophecies were finally coming true. No wonder Zechariah praised God! After months of enforced silence contemplating what these strange events meant, Zechariah knew the Messiah was coming soon. He also knew his son, John, was chosen to prepare the way. In his prophecy Zechariah recalled centuries of God's work in history. Then, in tender love, he finally speaks of his infant son who would "prepare his way". Although God has infinite power, he chooses to work through fragile humans who begin as helpless babies. Don't ever minimize the miracles God can do through those who are faithful to him, including you!

​Prayer: God, Speak to me in the silence of winter days. Amen.

​Meditation For The Day: Miracles are God's everyday work!

​Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Winter Renewal Paperback – November 25, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)