Bread Crumbs – Devotions for Life

Promises Fulfilled

Luke 1:67-80

 

“His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 

 

‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, 

because he has come and has redeemed his people. 

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 fathers 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. 

 

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; 

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 

to give his people the knowledge of salvation 

through the forgiveness of their sins, 

because of the tender mercy of our God, 

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 

to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, 

to guide our feet into the path of peace.’ 

 

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. 

 

I love music.  Too often I hear the melody and pick-up the beat, only to miss the message of the lyrics.  Quite often, I do not listen to the lyrics.

 

Years ago when we remodeled the sanctuary of the church I was serving, we put in the latest multi-media technology in order to project the words of hymns, songs, and scripture onto a screen for the congregation to sing and read.  

 

Two things happened when we did this.  First, the congregation sang better.  Second, the congregation paid closer attention to the lyrics of what we sang and to the words of scripture as it was read.

 

Also, God began to speak to me through music in ways which I never anticipated.  It has become a tremendous blessing for me.  I use to sing and not pay attention. Now I sing and hear God speaking to me.

 

Many people read poetry this way, they skim it mindlessly and miss its meaning.

 

Do you remember any of the words you read from Zacharias’ song above?  Or, did you fly through it reading it as a simple song of praise from a Dad about his boy.

 

Zacharias’ song speaks of redemption, salvation, fulfillment, forgiveness of sin, mercy, light, and life.  He summarizes the work of God completed in the coming of Jesus.

 

His song has lyrics worth knowing.

 

Did you hear God speaking through his song or did you simple see words without meaning?

 

Zacharias’ song is worthy of your attention.

 

Prayer: Today, I ask you to pray through Zacharias’ song, stopping to thank God for what He has done for you through Jesus.