Reflecting God – Monday, 9 December 2013
– “Out of the Silence” Scripture Reading: Luke 1: Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled
with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior[a]
for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his
holy prophets from of old,
71
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who
hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised
to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor
Abraham,
to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in
holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the
prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his
people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon[b] us,
79 to give light to those who sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in
spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to
Israel.
Footnotes:
Luke 1:69 Gk a horn of salvation
Luke 1:78 Other ancient authorities read
has broken upon
“Out of the Silence” by Debbie Salter
Goodwin
Isn’t it interesting that when Zechariah
doubted, God shut his mouth until he had something better to say. And when he
had something to say, he couldn’t stop talking. What came out of the silence
shows us who Zechariah listened to when he was silenced. It was clear that
Zechariah heard from God because God was all he sang about.
It’s easy to live in the noise that makes
us believe it is past time for God’s promises to come true. Sometimes it
requires times of silence to recognize that God did more than just think about
coming to us. He came. God, creator and owner of this earth, eternally alive in
a world our eyes have not been opened to see, figured out how to bridge the
distance that we often don’t even understand. He came as nonthreatening as He
could. He came as a baby.
Take time out for silence today. Quiet
the noise makers around you, especially the ones inside you. Let God speak the
words of promise and fulfillment so that when you talk about Christmas, it
sounds very much like what God said to Zechariah.
Hymn for Today:
“Blessed Quietness” by Manie Payne
Ferguson
1. Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.
Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
2. Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heav’nly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.
Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
3. Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.
Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
4. See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessèd fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.
Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
5. What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!
Refrain:
Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!
Thought for Today:
“But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him!”(Habakkuk 2:20).
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in
Bangladesh.
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Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, KS 66220 United States
Phone: (913)577-0500
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