First Thursday of Advent
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Luke 1:14-17 “You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
This is almost more than I can take in. The joy and gladness of which this angel speaks is already flooding my every pore. Not only because there could be a child, but because I can already imagine the heart of my wife being healed of the wound that has brought pain and sorrow to her eyes. Each day I could see behind her smile and recognize my pain mirrored there. What a blessing it would be to rejoice with her and praise the Lord together over what He might be doing!
But there is more to this message, “no wine or strong drink.” The words from Moses come to mind, “The LORD said: Speak to the Israelites and tell them… When men or women solemnly take the Nazirite vow to dedicate themselves to the LORD, they shall abstain from wine and strong drink…As long as they are Nazirites, they are holy to the LORD.” Numbers 6:1-3,8
He is to be a Nazirite, consecrated and set apart for the Lord. My child has been chosen by God for a purpose. There is so much to consider and so much more in all of this that I do not understand. Filled with the Holy Spirit from before his birth? Power in this Spirit to change hearts and bring our people back to the Lord? What kind of message is this that my mind cannot comprehend? Will my son be God’s messenger like Elijah? Is the time of our redemption coming closer? Lord, are Elizabeth and I, aged and humbled servants, to play a part in this somehow? I’m so confused.
Reflection Questions: Do you ever feel like Zechariah, wondering what is happening and how to absorb and accept the situation you find yourself in? It may be a blessing or a struggle. Have you ever felt confused and overwhelmed in a situation? What caused the stress? Was it the circumstances you were facing or was it the unknown? Often what we don’t understand or can’t control can make us feel more afraid than the actual reality of what we are dealing with.
Prayer: Father, what am I supposed to learn in the waiting? Help me to trust you and be patient when I am facing the unknown. It can be so scary, to be moving forward and not know what is around the corner. But here is the truth. You are walking with me. I can count on You being by my side no matter what is in my future. And help me remember that I don’t need to know it all, because You hold it all in Your hands. I will rest there. Amen.
