Thursday, December 12, 2024  

---

Today's Scripture
Luke 1:67–75

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (NRSV)

---

Reflection

Prophecy is such a loaded term. The term conjures in my mind the Old Testament prophets that called for judgment of their enemies. Or it reminds me of the made-for-TV charlatans who make their living by predicting the end of the world (and who still haven’t managed to get that right).

I love this passage because it delves only very briefly into the future prediction business, and it helps remind us of what prophecy can be. This moment is a remembrance of God’s grace, provision, and goodness. Zechariah spends the passage reminding us of God’s presence in the world and that God has kept the covenant with the Israelites. He goes on after our main passage to proclaim that God’s provision does not end but that God will “guide our feet into the way of peace.”

It’s a simple message: God was with us. God is with us. God will be with us.

Even here 2,000 years later, we still cling to this idea. And that’s nowhere clearer than in Advent, where we are remembering the literal moment that God became flesh among us. It’s that promise of Advent that reminds us of God’s endless love, provision, and promises made and kept.

---

Prayer
Creator God, thank you for your presence in this world and for sending your Son to be with us. Thank you for the Holy Spirit continuing to work in our lives. Help us always remember your promises and know in our souls that you will always be with us. Amen.

---

Written by Jared Light, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email