“While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”” Luke 1:11-17 NLT
God of preparation,
An elderly couple who thought they would not have children. You may not give all elderly couples the gift of a child, Father God, but it reminds us that You value everyone regardless of age. You are not a God far off but one in the details of our lives. And You had promised that a man would come, a voice shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3). And he did!
So John the Baptist was a parallel part of the preparation for Jesus. Born about three months before Jesus (Luke 1:36). He was filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth. He was Your man and He faithfully served You, even though it meant a difficult life, a dedicated life and not a very pleasant end. It challenges us to consider and give thanks that we have comfort and a full diet and a long life. We prefer to tell people God loves them in Jesus rather than like John to tell people they were a brood of vipers! To give up their sin and repent and be baptised (Luke 3:7-14).
Imagine putting those words up in Your front window at Christmas in place of a star or tree – repent you brood of vipers! John reminds us that You were not preparing a twee manger but the beginning of the solution for mans sin. Our sin, My sin. We, I are forever grateful. Thank You for those who do speak out against sin and selfishness Give us opportunities to speak about repentance, forgiveness and following You, God. Help us to speak of the crib and of the cross.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of preparation,
For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
Thank You for the precious people who enrich our lives.
For our Christian family. Christmas events planned for worship an to welcome new people to.
For our king and His family and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government, the Commons, the house of Lords, the civil servants.
For Ukraine and Russia. A miraculous end to war.
For the Sudan. Freedom from returning to oppression and corrupt evil leadership.
For the conflict in the Middle East and vengeance and war to end.
For those organising shelters and meals for Christmas. For help to extend beyond this season.
For the bereaved. those in hospital and those worried about family and friends.
For us find joy in preparing for the celebration of Your birth. Not stress trying get it all perfect.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 16th December 2024
A challenge to be modern day John the Baptist’s, and prepare the way for Jesus to come to hearts now.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Lyrics: John Michael Tebelak
Written for the musical Godspell. Godspell revisits the idea of Jesus as a revolutionary figure. One who challenged authority and preached a new, radical message to the world: “love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.”
Tebelak in a 1975 interview with Dramatics magazine stated that he, “wanted to make [Godspell] the simple, joyful message that I felt the first time I read [The Gospels] and recreate the sense of community.” It was written in reaction to the world and to those in authority who saw a young Tebelak, in his “hippie” attire, leaving a church and assumed he had snuck in to loiter rather than to listen.