Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Luke 1:13-17
“He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” -Luke 1:17b
Expectation:
• a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.
• a belief that someone will or should achieve something.
• one’s prospects of inheritance.
Today’s work is expectation and the story from Luke 1 tells us of Zechariah’s expectations of the day he was to offer new incense at the inner altar of the temple sanctuary. It was an honor to be chosen to complete this task, I’m sure he was nervous and wanted to do a good job and I’m sure he had planned every little detail out in his mind so that he would know what to expect to happen. As the saying goes, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” ~ The phrase from which John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” was coined.
Zechariah had not expected to see the Angel Gabriel as he entered into the holy place. All his planning had disappeared from this thoughts as he listened to what the Angel was telling him. The message that Gabriel gave to Zechariah still holds truth for us today. Although in the past it was the expectation of a holy man, John. John would later be called, John the Baptist and would help lead Israel into a new age, the coming of the Messiah. We know the story of Jesus’ birth and life, our expectation is His return with a new Heaven and new earth. This Advent draws us into expectation, our hearts expect to celebrate the birth of Jesus, all those many years ago, knowing why He came and knowing He is returning again. As believers and followers of Jesus it is our responsibility to continue to prepare the way of the Lord, to share the Good News of Jesus with all those who do not know Him. Let’s make space for holiness and righteousness here on earth, spreading hope, peace, joy and love to all the world.
I’ve included a C.S.Lewis quote that shares thoughts of, “what did you expect.”
Prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus! Let us prepare your way. Amen.
~Peace and Blessings~
References:
For a more detailed story of Zechariah read Luke 1:5-80. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:5-80&version=NIV
HOPE SEEKER 
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