Day #352 - He Has Come
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”
Luke 1:67-75 NIV
What is the thing you waited the longest for?
Turning 18? Or 21? Moving out of your house? Getting married? Graduating high school or college? Has there ever been a date or event that you have waited with great anticipation for that is far off ahead? I think the thing I have waited for the longest is graduating with a graduate degree. It’s a lot of work so it’s taking me longer than I estimated. I was married relatively young and we had children quickly. So I don’t feel like I have waited a long time for a lot of things. But could you imagine waiting for something that your ancestors waited for and took thousands of years to come?
Zechariah, the Dad of John the Baptist, was struck mute because when an angel appeared to him and told him that his barren wife Elizabeth would have a child he did not believe. Zechariah was a priest and a faithful man but he could not believe the child he waited for would come. He had waited all his life for a child and the people of Israel had waited thousands of years for their Messiah. When John is born, then Zechariah is finally able to speak again and some of his first words are praise God. He sings a song that is about Jesus and about the destiny of his son as the forerunner of the Messiah.
Before Zechariah begins to sing about Jesus, we learn that he, like his wife and son, is also filled with the Holy Spirit. Every believer ought to prioritize the Spirit-filled life. This is how God does His great work through ordinary people. He was a man filled with “the Presence.” And what does He sing about first? The Lord God of Israel had “come to His people.” This is all about “the Presence.” Because Jesus came the people would be redeemed. Because Jesus came they would be saved from their enemies.
In Jesus coming, God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled. In Jesus coming, God’s fulfillment to David prophesies was accomplished. The promise of holiness and righteousness was fulfilled in Jesus. Because He came, we could serve Him without fear. Jesus has come. Zechariah sang about it. The wait was over, the promise was fulfilled. Let us sing about Him forever and ever. He has come! He is worthy!
Lord Jesus, You have come! You are worthy to be praised! You fulfilled the promises to Abraham and David. You will surely fulfill Your promises to me. I get to serve You without fear in righteousness and holiness. Be near me Lord Jesus. I love Your presence. In Your name, amen.
“Because He has come!!!” …🙏🏻♥️
The wait is over! Glory Hallelujah, He is here! Amen 💝✝️🕊️