Advent Reflection For December 21, 2012

FRIDAY Luke 1:57-66

• Last week we saw that Joseph gave up the privilege of siring his first-born son to obey God. Zechariah here gave up the privilege of naming his son after himself. John was called, not to follow his father as a priest but to challenge that set of religious leaders. How did his father’s

submission to God point the way for John’s life mission?

• “All the neighbors were filled with awe…throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things….asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’” We’d say there was “a lot of buzz” about John’s birth. How did God use human curiosity (even our urge to gossip!) to add

impact to John’s later ministry?

Today’s Reflection by Jeff Griffin

Imagine . . .
Your son is born.  He and your spouse are healthy.  Eight days later family and relatives arrive to celebrate.

First question – what’s his name?  Next . . . an argument..  Really?  Typical.

As I read this passage I’m struck with very simple example of our often self-centered nature.  It’s so common for us to force our wants and desires in front of His will in our lives.  Look at Zechariah and Elizabeth’s family clamour for tradition to be kept and scheme for what they thought to be right, even going behind Elizabeth’s back to try to get their way.  It’s such a great example of how we can lose our way in even the simplest situations and forget a simple fact:

His will be done, not ours.

God had a plan for John.  John’s father submitted to God so minimally by not having his son named after him but understood so clearly the path laid for his son.

God’s path, not his.

What an amazing example for all who witnessed him regain his voice and praise God.  It says the word spread through the hills of Judea which I imagine in today’s world equates to a Facebook post with a few hundred “likes”.  That impact was real and began John’s ministry years before he left the wilderness to do so himself.  What kind of impact could we make it we got out of His way?

As we approach the birth of our savior in four short days join me in reflecting on the ways we try to stifle God’s will and stray from his path.  The little ways that add up.  The ways we try to box God in.  The small judgments we pass, traditions we can’t let go and many other barriers we put between us and God.  How can we remember to focus more on God’s plan and realize that His plan is the only one that matters.

His plan started with a child.  A savior.  Our savior.  Thank God.

See you Sunday and Merry Christmas.