Devotional Messages

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE

Luke 1:76-77 – “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.”  (NRSV)

These brief lines are part of a longer passage known as the Song of Zechariah.  Luke uses this poem to express Zechariah’s praise of God after the birth of his son, who would become the man we call John the Baptist.  This is the section that is most directly connected to the ministry John conducted.  But so many centuries later, could they also be a call to us?

As Christmas approaches, we are all invited to help prepare the way of the Lord.  As you’ll hear more about on Sunday, you don’t have to wear camel hair and eat locusts to share good news.  There are so many people, in this season and all year long, who are disconnected from joy because they are trapped in personal prisons of unforgiveness.  These captives need release.

You’ve probably talked with someone who said they shouldn’t come to church with you because “the roof would cave in.”  Or maybe they made a crack about lightning.  Hopefully, they were kidding, but we all know that humor is used to express feelings we would otherwise not say out loud.  The reality is that there are lots of people who are convinced that Christianity is not for them because they’re “not good enough.”

These are the folks who really need our preparation work this Christmas.  They need to hear that forgiveness is possible and real and For Them.  They need to know that second (and third and fourth) chances are available.  They need to be convinced that nothing in their past can separate them from the love and mercy of God.  What better gift could you give this Christmas?