Luke 1:68-79 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:68-79 on biblegateway.com
Verse 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. Verse 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, Verse 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, Verse 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Verse 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, Verse 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us Verse 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, Verse 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Verse 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, Verse 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. Verse 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, Verse 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Devotion
Zechariah, “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 67), begins his prophecy, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them” (v. 68). Where is the heart of the Good News for us in that announcement — being “visited” or “redeemed”? As a child in church, I thought the Good News was pretty much about being saved by a loving God for eternity in the life to come. That is indeed good news. The longer I live and the more I move through hard times, the more I realize that it is also pretty wonderful news knowing we are not alone in this life. Advent celebrates the “visit” of God. Jesus comes for a visit in the flesh and stays on in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for your presence with us both in eternal life to come and in the life we are dealing with now. Amen.