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Advent 3 - Monday
By Pat Lee | December 15, 2008
Advent Take-Homes
The following have been used as resources for these take-homes.
In the Presence of the Lord—Advent Devotions by Caroline Pignat
Daybreaks—Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas by Patricia Livingston
Wake Up To Joy Devotions for Advent by Mark Nielsen
Following the Star—Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas by Mark Boyer
Living in Hope Advent Meditations—Henri Nouwen
Third Week of Advent
Monday December 15,2008
Meet John
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-15
Scripture Verse:”Do no be afraid Zechariah…your wife Elizabeth will bear a son and you will name him John.” Luke 1:13t
Most of us have listened to the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth in the second chapter of Luke. Fewer have read the story of the birth of John the Baptist in Luke’s first chapter. Yet the two births are intertwined as later on their two lives would be. John’s birth was no accident.
As with Abraham and Sarah 2,000 years before, John’s parents Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless and up in years. God produced the people of Israel by intervening miraculously and giving Sarah a son. Here, too, it is God’s doing—God’s intention, God’s initiative. God not only provided his Son to save us, God provides the predicted forerunner John. A barren Elizabeth conceived as promised by the angel.
This reminds us that life is not an accident, a coincidence or luck. There is a Creator actively working his will in the world—in this instance picking up his centuries old promise to send someone to prepare the way for the messiah and providing John for this specific purpose.
“He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God,” the angel promised Zechariah. “With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him…” God had promised through the prophet Malachi to send “Elijah” to Israel. In John the promise is kept.
You and I may not expect God to perform such overt signs for us but we can trust that God is keeping his promises and working in our lives too. And now and then, looking back, we can see that it has not been luck or coincidence or accident. God is at work with us also.
Prayer: .Loving God give us the eyes of faith to see your care for us expressed in our lives. Amen
Topics: Advent |