Christian Reflection and Prayer

And behold, (the angel said) you will be silent and unable
to speak until the day that these things take place
(Luke 1:20a).          Read Luke 1:20-22.

 

I can think of few times during the year when I would hate
to lose my voice more than Christmas time. There are so
many beautiful carols to sing, so many thrilling songs. It
did happen one year in my ministry. I had to save my
voice to preach and, as a result, sat silently as our
members sang all those beautiful Christmas carols without
me. It was frustrating beyond all measure.

 

What must it have been like for Zechariah to be silenced-
not for a day or two-but for more than nine months? This
should have been the happiest time in his life. It should
have started with him stepping out of the temple, praising
God with a loud voice. Instead, he can only try to make
signs to communicate with the waiting crowds outside.
God has left him unable to speak because of his unbelief.

At first, the worshipers in the temple court wondered at
his delay since usually burning incense was a quick thing.
But when Zechariah came out unable to speak, they read
his gestures and realized he had seen a vision in the
temple. But unfortunately he was unable to tell them what
had happened.

 

The same will be true when he returns home to Elizabeth.
He will have to watch God's marvelous plan unfold, seeing
the dream he had long shared with his wife come true and
all the while finding himself unable to speak a single word
about it.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Heavenly Father, I confess my doubt and unbelief. Forgive
me for Jesus' sake, and fill me with Your Spirit that I may
trust Your Word and praise Your Name forever. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

The angel said to him, "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" (Luke 1:19).
Read Luke 1:19-25.

 

It took a lot of behind-the-scenes work for us to get
that pool table. Our neighbors let mom and dad
stored it unassembled in their garage next door.
Then late Christmas Eve our neighbor and my dad
carried it piece by piece to our basement, where
dad spent all the night putting it together. But you
never saw a group of happier boys surrounding a
pool table than that Christmas morning.

 

This also should be Zechariah's greatest day.
Instead, his doubt and skepticism blinds him to
the joy and wonder of all that God has promised.
So the angel reveals his name: Gabriel. A priest
like Zechariah should certainly recognize him as
the angel God had sent several times to share
His message with Daniel.

 

Beyond that, Gabriel reminds the foolish priest
that he has come from the very presence of God
Himself. He received these words directly from
God and has come to bring this great message
of good news.

 

God has made Christmas such a joyous season,
but just like Zechariah we so often let the little
things in life steal our joy, along with our voice of
praise and thanksgiving to God. Agonizing over
our problems and self-absorbed, we miss the
peace and joy that God is carefully working
everything out for us. We fail to see that if God
has sent His Son to take care of our most
important problems, i.e. saving us from death
and His fiery wrath, He will certainly take care
of our mundane needs as well.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

 Heavenly Father, I have every reason to praise
You and declare Your glorious name to everyone
I see. Please turn me from fear, anger and
bitterness and fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I
may joyfully share Your good news this
Christmas and always. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know
this?" (Luke 1:18)

 

The impossible gift: for some children it's a pony; for
us it was a pool table. Every Christmas we asked for
a pool table and ended up disappointed. Finally, one
Christmas we sat around the tree after opening all
our presents. Figuring there would be no pool table,
we resigned ourselves to look more closely at the
presents we had received. That's when mom and dad
brought out one last present for each of us. One
brother opened a triangle; another opened a box of
pool balls. We were all running downstairs before the
other three gifts were unwrapped.

 

That's what happened to Zechariah. But instead of
running downstairs to see the pool table, he sat on
the floor asking "How shall I know this?" Long ago he
had given up the dream of having a child. So even
though an angel stands before him delivering this
tremendous good news, Zechariah finds it impossible
to believe.

 

God's great promises often greet us when we are
beaten down, discouraged and depressed. A cynicism
often creeps in that keeps us from enjoying God's gifts
as we should, but those gifts are still offered whether
you believe it or not. The Baby is still in Bethlehem's
manger for you. Will you pass Him by just because
you've been discouraged by the events in your life?

Christmas is really all about God stepping into our
world of disappointment, heartache and failure. He
came to share our life of pain and sorrow; He came to
give us His life of joy, peace and bliss.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Lord Jesus, come to me in my disillusionment and
pain. Reassure me of Your power to heal my pain,
provide all my needs, and lead me to unending joy in
Your presence. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)