July 6 Joy of Your Salvation

Luke 1:67-75 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvations from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
 
REMEMBER the moment that something amazing has happened to you. You’ve passed a test you’ve failed 7 times before. You have given birth to a long-awaited child. You have scored the winning points in a championship game. You are experiencing a very, very special victory in your life, and nothing can contain your joy.
     That is Zechariah’s emotion here. For centuries, centuries, God has promised a “horn of salvation” – one who will be powerful to save his people. Zechariah knows that the prophesied horn of salvation is not his son John, but he knows his people are on the verge of witnessing the Great Arrival of the Savior so long promised.
     Feel the joy. Feel the release from fear. Feel the hope. Oh yes, there is hope in Zechariah’s voice. Do you hear it?  “74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies and to enable us to serve him without fear.” Throw away the fear, cast out those who harm us. They won’t be able to harm us again – ever! Zechariah is experiencing God’s grace. God’s gift of a Savior is freeing him to life. God’s Savior is coming, and he is celebrating by telling the Good News of great joy. 
 
Prayer: Excite my heart each day, Lord God, that you have sent to me your Savior! Amen.