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‘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.’ (Luke 1:68-79)
May this be a wonderful and blessed day for you, dear Friend! May our time spent in prayer, reflection, and Bible study bless us to be a blessing. That's my prayer and I pray it be yours too.
Many of us saw yesterday something that had never happened before in our nation; a president burying his father, also a president. The two Adams, John and John Quincy, did not have that chance as the son, John Quincy did not find out about his father's death until he was already buried. In turn, we can imagine and some may have remembered the joy of the elder Bush on the election of his son to the office of president. Many a parent has had great joy in the accomplishments of their child(ren). Can you imagine the joy of one whose son is born according to biblical prophecy? Many a time the priest Zechariah had read that passage from his scriptures, where the prophet Malachi spoke of the coming messenger of the Lord, never thinking that it would be his son about whom this was written. Yet, on that day inside the holy of holies, while serving his turn as priest, an angel came and spoke to him about his son. Zechariah being old, did not believe it, and this passage is at the time of that boy's birth. His joy allowed him to share these words that qualify as awesome and powerful as the psalms, thus it being the psalm lesson for this week.
A song blessing God, thanking God for God's faithfulness and redemption of His people. For in the son's coming work, he would announce the arrival of God's messiah, whose job would be to save the world. This salvation was not from political or military enemies, but those of sin and death, the result of disobedience and unfaithfulness towards the Lord. This child would be the prophet, preparing the way of the Lord, and that way would include salvation and forgiveness. From the work of this child and the child yet to be born at that time, would come light from Heaven "to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
This season of Advent reminds us of that light and hope that is ours. It goes on to remind us that we are or can be free from sin and death; Christ came to free you and me from that deadly grip on our spirits, to free us to live a life of peace. Think about peace for you today. That means we can be lifted up and over the worries and anxieties we may have about what's ahead for us today. These little or seemingly major distractions pale in the light of Christ's big picture for our lives. Receive that hope and joy for your life today.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as we pray, free us from what is troubling us right now. Many feel anxious about gifts and travel arrangements and so many other things that keep us from the true hope and joy of this season. Speak to the heart of this dear reader and bring peace. And may that peace free us for joyful obedience to You; this we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Claim the joy and peace that is yours in Christ Jesus! And then share it with someone!
Eradio Valverde
Be sure to forward this devotional to those for whom you care about; pray that it bring a blessing to them.
