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A Different Pew, A Deeper Faith
Photograph by Daniel Gomez / Unsplash I am sitting in a back pew of my new Read More
Mary Austin | Read Luke 3:1-6
Luke carefully locates John the Baptist in time, moving down through the line of rulers from the most powerful to the lesser powers. The word of God comes zipping into the world, and passes right by all the significant people and comes to . . .John, a nobody son of...
God of surprises, we rejoice in your presence this Advent. May we perceive you in our midst and respond with joy. Amen.
The prophet Malachi speaks of a future day when God’s messenger will come to prepare the way for the Lord. The Lord will then purify the people and restore proper worship of God. Christians believe that John the Baptizer was this messenger, preparing the way for Christ. In Luke 1, the Holy Spirit fills Zechariah, John’s father, who proclaims that the fulfillment of God’s promises to their descendants has begun. Luke continues the story of John in chapter 3, describing John’s ministry of calling people to repentance. They need to prepare the way of the Lord in their own hearts, thus fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy. Paul in Philippians focuses not on the advent of Christ but on the ongoing power of Christ’s presence to make us blameless and righteous in God’s sight.
Read Malachi 3:1-4. How have you encountered the refiner’s fire? What was your experience?
Read Luke 1:68-79. In what ways have you experienced God’s tender mercy in your life?
Read Philippians 1:3-11. How do you make expressing your gratitude for others a daily habit?
Read Luke 3:1-6. How are you preparing the way of the Lord? What crooked paths are you helping to make straight?
Respond by posting a prayer.
