The Coming Season

Putting Thanksgiving aside, now we enter into the Christmas season.
I have always been fascinated by Luke's Account of all the divine activity that takes place before the birth of Jesus.
You have to remember that between the Old Testament and the New Testament, there was a period of 400 years of silence. By that, I mean that God was not talking (See Amos 8:11). He says that there will be a famine of the Word....silence. Now in Luke, we see the orderly account of all this angelic activity bringing pronouncements and revelations of God's plan for the Messiah to appear.

Luke 1:11 reads:  Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar.
The incense altar was symbolic for the prayers that are lifted to heaven. Revelation tells of these prayers being collected in a bowl. The fact that the angel is standing on the right side of the altar is reference to "Authority" given to the angel. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father where all authority has been given to him. This angel was sent under the request and through the authority of God to proclaim that that which the Jews have been looking for (Messiah) was about to take place. God was bringing forth first the voice mentioned in Malachi Chapter 3, namely John the baptizer. John would be the forerunner of Christ proclaiming "Prepare Ye the way of the Lord!"

God always communicates his plans with His children. We must never forget that! God is a communicating God, and the Bible is the first voice God uses. I don't discount other ways, but they all fall secondary to the Scriptures. As we move deeper into this Christmas Season, look beyond the manger in Bethlehem...Look beyond the Christ Child.....look deep into the heart of the Word and see a God who loved creation so much that His plan included the death of His Son, Jesus, to pay for my sins.
I cannot wrap my head around such love....
But I am thankful for God.

God on you.....
mb