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 his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies. Luke
1:68-71
This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 3 of Advent, and today John Piper wants us to see "two remarkable things" from the words of Zechariah - Elizabeth's husband - from Luke 1:68-71.
First, earlier in Luke, when an angel of the Lord (Gabriel) appeared to Zechariah in v8-17 and foretold that Elizabeth (barren as noted in v7) would give birth to John the Baptist, Zechariah's response was one of disbelief - v18-19: Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” In contrast, when Elizabeth does give birth (v57), Piper wants us to fully appreciate Zechariah's response as noted in v68-71. Piper notes that Zechariah is now filled with the Holy Spirit, and instead of questioning the word of the God, "he is so confident of God’s redeeming work in the coming Messiah that he
puts it in the past tense: “he has visited and redeemed his people.”
For the mind of faith, a promised act of God is as good as done.
Zechariah has learned to take God at his word[.]" We should respond in kind, knowing that ALL of God's promises will come true as He is faithful!
Next, Piper wants us to see how "the coming of Jesus the Messiah is a visitation of God to our world." Despite the many prophecies of Jesus from Isaiah and others, "for centuries" the Jewish people saw God as "withdrawn" as they "languished" in waiting for the promised Messiah. Piper refers us to Luke 2 where we see Godly examples of Simeon and Anna who were "waiting for the consolation and redemption Israel." In this season of Advent, we should all be awaiting with excitement for the coming of Jesus!
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who fulfills all of Your promises to me and all believers! Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You are so faithful. My sin is great and it continues. Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
