Zacharias had believed the promises for forty years and had quietly written himself out of them
As soon as you say the word "Christmas", most people begin to think of decorations, gifts, festive foods, and carols. The beloved annual celebration is well-detailed in both the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.
However, these scriptures are about more, much more, than seasonal pageantry. Here are the dynamics for how the Christ will be revealed. These chapters could be entitled: People of the Plan.
In whatever walk of life you are serving, you are first of all called to be part of that plan to reveal Christ to our world. The same dynamics are in place today. Let me share four of them with you.
God is a God of plans
Many think of God as the God of past endeavors. Others consider Him as one who will unfold a dramatic plan at some future date. However, when God is revealed to us as a God who has dynamic plans, He is setting the stage for our participation.
In Luke 1 Zacharias is faithfully performing the same religious ritual that has been performed for hundreds of years. However, his service unto the Lord in the Temple, and note it was at the time of prayer, was gloriously interrupted by an angelic visitor.
Zacharias just could not believe that he and Elizabeth were about to become personally involved with the God of the past. He had faithfully anticipated God's promises but had likely dismissed himself as part of that plan.
He had faithfully anticipated God's promises but had likely dismissed himself as part of that plan.
Rev. Peggy I. Kennedy
He tells people His plans
Secondly, when God gets ready to reveal the Christ to a city, to a nation, to nations, He begins to tell people His plans. Both Luke 1 and 2 and Matthew 2 give the account of heaven's messenger, the angel Gabriel, being dispatched to announce heaven's plans.
He calls people into the plan
This gives way to the third dynamic of how God works: He begins to call people into the plan.
In any Christmas pageant there are many characters. There's a Mary and a Joseph, there are angels, there's an innkeeper, there are shepherds and there are wisemen. God's plans today for nations will include many, many people. You are a part of that plan.
There's no professional cast. Rather, the Lord intends to use many in diverse walks of life. And that includes you.
There's no professional cast.
Rev. Peggy I. Kennedy
He brings people together
The final dynamic to be observed in these chapters is that when the Christ is to be revealed, the Lord will begin to bring people together into relationship with each other in the plan.
It was the angel Gabriel that announced to Mary that Elizabeth, her cousin, was also pregnant with the plan of God. That relationship would be vital to confirm to Mary that she had really heard from God.
Our relationships with each other are initiated by the Lord. This is more, much more, than just networking. These relationships will all find their place in the big picture of God.
You are a part. You are one of His chosen people of the plan.
Rev. Peggy I. Kennedy
Speaker and author with Two Silver Trumpets Ministry in Canada, where she and Jack Kennedy have served the church for over fifty years.