Luke 1:67-79
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for usin the house of his servant David
70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways
To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins
because of the tender mercy of our God
whereby the sunrise shall visit us [dawn upon us] from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
An angel appears to Zechariah during his rotation of offering Incense at that Altar in the Temple of the Lord. In other words, Zechariah is not in the Temple every day. It is an important occasion and there are people praying for him in another part of the Temple.
Zechariah is filled with trouble and fear at the sight of Gabriel, but didn't grab the horns of the altar for refuge. Instead he asks for a sign. (Instead of believing his wife is expecting?!) Why is Zechariah able to prophesy after the birth of his son?
Zechariah is without fear. He is righteous, again, before God's eyes. Zechariah is living forgiveness in the tender mercy of God.
because of the tender mercy of our God,
the sunrise shall dawn upon us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace
Rick Warren's book "40 Days of Love" made a wonderful exploration of Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. The real life story about overcoming when forgiveness is part of life and grand gestures are not appreciated. God's Children - His people overcome and forgive
Jacob was named Israel for his great capacity to want to bless. Not all wanting to bless is sought or appreciated. We can't lavish all the time. Mercy isn't always appreciated.
The Prophetic Story of Jesus is marvelous because God Himself Lavishes on Jesus - the path for Lavish God.
And then we finally get the opportunity to have mercy and no one wants it. This might have happened to Jacob. We never see Jacob's sons living with Jacob. He passed on. And with his last will, Jacob blesses his sons. When studying the blessings, we find reality. And dreams. Flee is in the Scriptures 132 times. Jacob blessed them acknowledging who they really are.
Israel is named for a man wanting to Bless. When unbelievable circumstances have been there. Jacob does not white wash any tombs, he makes brass tacks and rock foundation work. Jacob even fought God to find a way to bless his sons, those he loved. Jacob is a Blessing taker, Blessing seeker, Blessing fighter and a Blessing to endure hard circumstance to be a Blessing Gifter. To us all.
The Scriptures are important in telling us to Love the Lord our God foremost. Utmost. And in second place is us. Jesus Christ died for you. And me.
We learn to treat others as we want to be treated. And yet we are not God.
We are not to:
Take Revenge.
Curse God.
Give into Sexual Sin. To be bonded with what we do not fully comprehend.
Worry about idols. Sometimes this would say worrying about other's motivations.
Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Seriously.
Flee.
God says leave Sexual Sin. Depart.
Wrath.
Sorcery.
Murder.
God wants to Save the World in Jesus Christ.
What He primarily asks us to do is walk with God. In Goodness and Mercy.
Knowing God is God and God asks us to treat others as we would be treated.
Flee 132 times. When did Jesus Flee.
He did not. Jesus did not Flee. Yet as Resurrected Jesus, He made priorities to be with 500 people. Jesus being God knew that He was making incredibly valuable time count. We know for a fact, Jesus forgave the Romans, the Centurions and even Herod and Pontius Pilate. And what Jesus gave the others than the 500 was time, their own time for what they would do with this Forgiveness.
We can see the complete and amazing Scope of Jesus Forgiveness in sending His Beloved into Rome itself. And in endurance, Caesarea is an astonishing Prophecy of Jesus. This is Indeed where Jesus Built His Church.
Rick Warren explained recovering from Divorce does not mean to move in with an ex-spouse. In fact, The Old Testament records signing up for this kind of suffering will insure decay and rot. We do not sign up for suffering. God took all the really outrageous things out by explaining about tremendous trouble in Leviticus and the other Pentateuch Books.
When Paul tells us to Rejoice in Suffering, he has, also, in the Holy Spirit said do not be surprised at the fiery burdens of life. The Scriptures never have Jesus showing us someone plucking out the eye or cutting off their arm. Nor did Jesus have dinner with Caiaphas.
We are to be here to reason. We are to be Wise as in Proverbs to Discern. The Purpose of Job is Discerning and Enduring with Hope. Job finally found real peace with God's Real Plan. Mercy. God Loved Job for expecting Mercy. Life bent Job up and down. God found Job worthy to set on the real foundation. Job was like the woman Jesus purposely encountered in Tyre - Job was not going to leave God - even if Job is the dog under the table with scraps. Job expected the Mercy of God. The Syrophoenician woman longed, longed for the Mercy of God to fall on her beloved child.
So then in human being terms, is Paul just whacked out of his mind as Governor Felix yelled at Paul? Does Paul want to suffer?
I'd love to know how Paul reacted to that. Did he laugh? Did he weep? Did he feel embarrassed (no). Did he just saintly perceiver? Jesus is the Word of God. Paul uses words and Paul took on more challenge than most of us would. (Hello.) Paul used what God used. Words. Jesus told us to Speak Up. With Mercy. With Love.
Paul is an overwhelming Study in loving people around you. Proverbs has said wisely place your heart. Evidently, Paul wisely placed His Heart.
The Life of the People of Scriptures is the reality of the harsh and bewildering ways Life can knock the stuffing out of you. Meeting the Mercy, Goodness, Strength and Encouragement of God. All their flaws. All their virtues, Shine only in God.
Consider Stained Glass. It is art, but it is harsh broken items held up to the Light. Mere sand, put through fire. Tested. Placed. Replaced. Part of a Plan.
to Bless us and Keep us
and Make Your Face to Shine upon us.
To know our cares and compassions. To forgive our flaws and weakness.
We ask for Your Graciousness.
We want to be Blessing Seekers. To ask for Your Willing Blessings
on our infirmities and Heal us. We love to ask Your Blessings.
Help us to be a Blessing.
Thank You for Your Blessings. Our Hope and Future. Today, Yesterday and, also, Tomorrow.
Bless those we love with health, healing from cancer and from illness - upset stomach and headache requiring antibiotics.
Lift Your Face and Smile upon us.
Carry our Nation to Trust in You.
Bless Nations who seek You and Your Light.
Bless the Children of God asking You for more Heaven on earth.
Give us the Amazing Gift of Peace.
Peace so Magnificent this is Your own Peace.
The assurance of You. God's own Peace.
We ask with all our heart, mind and soul to be
Covered in the Name of Jesus.
And Your Blessing of more Heaven on earth.
In the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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