Christian Reflection and Prayer

A SONG OF PRAISE

Read Luke 1:64-75. TEXT: And immediately his (Zechariah's)
mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke,
blessing God (Luke 1:64).

Advent       The long months of silence are over. Without a
word, Zechariah has had to watch everything transpire--
especially those wondrous three months when Mary came
to visit with the promised Christ growing in her womb. Now
the silence is over. The last time Zechariah spoke, words
of unbelief came from his lips. Now they are words of profound
praise to God--inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Zechariah chiefly says two things about the Child of Mary--the
Christmas Child. He has been raised up as a horn of salvation
for us from our enemies. In the Old Testament the horn was a
symbol of strength and power. God has raised up Jesus to be
our strength and power. He saves us from great and terrible
enemies: Satan, sin, death and hell.

Secondly, having been saved from these fearful enemies, we
are now able to serve God without fear, in holiness and
righteousness all our days.

That means because of Jesus' coming at Christmas we can live
without fear. No more do we have to worry about upsetting God
or receiving His wrath because we didn't do something exactly
right. Freed from our fear of God and confident in His provision
for our needs on earth, we are free to focus on other people--and
how we can serve them. And we can serve them best by sharing
the freedom and fearlessness Christ has brought us.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, in Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have liberated
us from the fear of life, death and hell itself. Enable me now to
serve You with joy and share the salvation story of my Lord Jesus
Christ. In His Name I pray. Amen.

( Wayne Palmer Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Luke 1:57-63. TEXT: Now the time came for Elizabeth
to give birth, and she bore a son (Luke 1:57).

Advent    Finally Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayers are
answered, and John is born. Their neighbors and relatives are
especially joyful, coming together on the eighth day for their
son's naming and circumcision. As the ceremony begins, they
are about to name the child after his father. Unless Elizabeth
speaks up, it will prove difficult for Zechariah to intervene.

But immediately Elizabeth breaks with tradition. She
emphatically declines to name the child Zechariah, "No; he
shall be called John." The people are puzzled. Why would she
want to go against the tradition of naming the child after
someone in the family? No one among their relatives is named
John.

They aren't ready to accept her answer. Instead, they turn to
Zechariah and make signs to ask what he wants to name the
child. I always find it amusing to recall that the aged priest
doesn't need them to make signs to him--he can hear just fine.
He simply can't speak.

If Zechariah had any fear of peer pressure, he didn't show it.
Still unable to talk because of his unbelief nine months before,
Zechariah asks for a writing tablet. And as everyone looks on
expectantly, Zechariah writes, "His name is John."

God chose a new name for Zechariah and Elizabeth's son
because He was doing a new thing, sending His own Son to
save the world. He likewise had wonderful plans for John. He
would be Jesus' forerunner, preparing the way for the new
covenant or testament that Jesus Christ would bring.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank You for doing something new, for
sending Your Son to save us from our sins. Bless us this
Christmas season to receive Him who makes us new. In
Jesus' Name. Amen.
( Wayne Palmer Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 122. TEXT: And Mary remained with her about
three months and returned to her home (Luke 1:56).

Advent       Three delightful months. Mary and Elizabeth had
three months together to speak about God's gracious work
In their lives. They could talk about the future when their
sons would step forward and proclaim the grace of God. It
was a wonderful time of comfort, support and spiritual growth
for Mary.

But all good things must come to an end. Three months went
by and Elizabeth reached full term. With the birth of John due
any day, it was time for Mary to leave that sanctuary and return
home--to her betrothed husband Joseph, who will consider
divorcing her when he learns she is pregnant
(see Matthew 1:18-25), where neighbors might well gossip
and falsely judge her.

Christmas is drawing close, and we should take time to pause
and relish the wonders of this season. Though our neighbors
may not realize it, their Christmas lights point us to Jesus
Christ, the Light of the world. Their decorations remind us that
Jesus Christ has beautified us with His own holiness and purity.

Soon enough church decorations will go back into storage and
our lives will return to normal. Now is the time to bask in the
glory and wonder, especially as we approach the soft, warm,
wonder of Christmas Eve, and the joyous celebration of our
Savior's birth Christmas morning. Why not plan to spend those
special hours with your family in Christ, coming to His house
to remember and celebrate His birth for you?

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, help me treasure these days and moments
when we celebrate Your unfathomable love and grace in
sending Your Son. Gather us together into Your house this
Christmas Eve and Morning so that together--as Your family-
-we might fill each other with joy, love and peace, through
Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.

( Wayne Palmer Lutheran Hour Ministries)