Monday, December 19, 2011

Monday, December 19
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Psalms 61, 62, 112, 115
Titus 1:1-16
Luke 1:1-25

Luke 1:1-25

In the opening of Luke’s gospel account, we hear about Zechariah getting the big news, and it surely came as quite a shock.  He was told that his wife would bear a son, against all odds given the old age of the couple.  John the Baptist, as he eventually came to be known, would be “great in the sight of the Lord” and “make ready a people” for what, and who, was to come.  Zechariah’s son became a leader of the fringe, fearless in his disregard of the established religious hierarchy and in his zeal for preaching the word of God, at great risk to his own personal safety.  He was an impressive figure, so much so that he was mistaken by some for the Messiah, but John taught those that would listen to keep waiting and to be ready.  “One who is more powerful than I will come…” 

He has come, and will come again.  You must prepare your heart for the One who patiently awaits your permission to fill it.

Mark Ramey, Jr.