Our scripture this morning is Luke 1:68-79.
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.
The priest Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, shares these words at his son’s birth, blessing God and offering thanks for the promise of the coming Messiah. He knows the prophecy from ages past and recognizes that God is fulfilling His promise. As John and Jesus will both tell the people “the kingdom of God has come near”.
As we continue our Advent journey, think about the coming of the Messiah and the kingdom we are promised. How are we sharing God’s love and light in a world that disagrees on so many things? How can we make a difference?
We have been blessed with the truth of Christ and that gives us a responsibility to spread the Gospel everywhere we can. We don’t need to be clever orators or skilled theologians, just tell others what God has done for you. An honest sharing is what God requires of us, simply telling our story as part of His plan for salvation.
Loving Lord, we are thankful for the gift of Your son coming to save us from sin. Bless us to go into the world and tell everyone of Your love and care. Amen.