Daily Devotional

-December 18, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday, Merry Christmas,

-God Visited His People With Redemption And Salvation-

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, as He spoke by the mouth His holy prophets, who have been since the world began.”

(Luke 1:68-70).

This portion of Scripture (Luke 1:67-79) is known as the Prophecy of Zacharias. He was the father of John the Baptist. He was a priest who served in the temple and didn’t believe the angel Gabriel who announced that he and wife Elizabeth would give birth in their advanced years to John the Baptist. Because he doubted and question it, he was made mute for nine months until John was born.

When it was time to name the baby he wrote on a tablet that his name is John. Then his tongue was released and he began to praise God and he speak the words of this prophecy by the Holy Spirit. We should never doubt the power and promises of the Word of God. When God says, we must believe it!

It is significant that Zacharias mentioned three things God did for His people Israel: He visited them, He redeemed them, and He raised up a horn of salvation to them. He also says that God spoke through His holy prophets. God always fulfills His promises and His prophecies. The coming of Christ was first prophesied in the book of Genesis and throughout the OT. It was then fulfilled in the birth of Christ. John the Baptist was the forerunner who came to announce His coming.

God never forgets His people nor His promises to them. His timing is always perfect, though sometimes the wait is long. There were those godly Jews who were waiting for the Messiah to come. It was a long wait, but well worth it.

Charles Wesley wrote in his wonderful hymn, “Christ by highest heaven adorned, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.” It may late in time in man’s reckoning but precisely on time in God’s reckoning.

No matter what part we play in proclaiming Christ and serving Him, we are blessed. Let us like Zacharias praise the Lord and give Him glory that God sent His Son into the world to visit and redeem us. From His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus changed the world. One day soon, He will return in the air to take us home to heaven.

Have a blessed day and weekend. May we speak of the birth of our Savior and His love. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean