![3 - “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. HOW DOES THIS VERSE...]()
3 - “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God."
HOW DOES THIS VERSE RELATE TO CHRISTMAS?
Luke here writes how the children of Israel were waiting for a messiah to come for years. People were waiting on a messiah by weeping and fasting as the times were going from bad to worse: children were being killed; the land was full of barrenness; hopelessness. The prophets were prophesying that the messiah was coming but when? In this verse there is hope again. God knew people’s hearts. HE heard their cry. The baby who was to be born is going to bring many children of Israel back to YHWH. That hope of miracles: no sickness, no demonic oppression and a hope of worshipping GOD in the land again. Zechariah must have been very excited and so in awe of this news that he allowed his unbelief to get in the way.
This verse shows God’s heart. The heart to bring children of Israel back to HIM.
HOW DOES THIS COMFORT ME?
That God knows our hearts. HE hears our cries. HE has done it before and will do it again. I believe we are in similar times again when we desperately need Messiah to come back. And there is Hope. Hope within us - Jesus our Lord.
FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL?
O Come let us adore HIM!![2 - “But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very...]()
2 - “But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.” HOW DOES THIS VERSE RELATE TO CHRISTMAS? Christmas is supposed to be a time of hope and joy, but this verse on its own appears to be a hopeless situation. Zechariah and Elizabeth would dearly love a child but it seems impossible as they are now very old. However, they were a Godly couple and after much prayer, Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to a much-loved baby boy, truly a gift from God. At Christmas we celebrate another birth, that of our saviour Jesus, whom we love. We too are in an impossible situation as sinners, but his birth, death and resurrection gives us such hope and joy for our lives and for eternity. HOW DOES THIS COMFORT ME? We all go through many trials and troubles in life, we often feel downhearted and sometimes feel like giving up. With prayer and faith in God, all situations can be turned around for good in His will. Even in the most difficult and seemingly impossible situations, God is always in control, He has a plan and a way and He will do it in His time! We have to remember that with God all things are possible and there is always hope. FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL? Once in Royal David’s City ![1 - “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,...]()
1 - “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye witnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” HOW DO THESE VERSES RELATE TO CHRISTMAS? As you approach this Christmas season I wonder where you find yourself on this journey called life. Perhaps you are making plans ‘for this and that’ hoping it all comes together. This is what Luke’s gospel is about. God has had a plan from the start and is working out His plan through His Son, for you and me personally. Luke anchors his gospel story, in the eyewitness accounts ‘from the beginning’ (verse 2) and wants to reassure Theophilus. Luke having followed all things closely for some time past, now wants Theophilus to know with certainty the things he had been taught. God has not changed, nor has His plan. What Luke wanted for Theophilus, God wants for you and me. Maybe you are struggling with uncertainty, with acceptance, with belonging? God knows and God cares. That’s why He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for you and rise again, so that you might be certain of His love for you. HOW DOES THIS COMFORT ME? I find it reassuring to know with certainty that there is a bigger and better story than mine, and God, through His Son Jesus has brought me into His story. Now that’s exciting! ![“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of...]()
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
