June 17 “Announcing…”

Luke 1:16-17 Many of the people of Israel will he (John) bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous –  to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
 
GOD has set the stage. All has been arranged since eternity past and now God’s great gift of love is about to come into the world!
     But there is one final thing to do. One final person has to come on stage before the main performance begins. Before the star comes out, God wants to excite his people to cheer and to celebrate his Savior of the world. The Savior’s prophecies, his presence and his power await the announcer to introduce him to the world. God’s desire is for his people to expectantly and joyfully raise their hearts to receive his Son.
     John is to be the impassioned announcer. You remember Elijah’s passion and power to awaken people to God, don’t you? Elijah pointed out Israel’s sins. He demonstrated God’s salvation. God will use John in an “Elijah-like” way to awaken the Jews to his judgment and to prepare his people for God’s salvation. Fathers will care for their children in God’s ways. The Jews and then the world will listen to what is right. Many from this time on will be ready to wholeheartedly receive their Savior!
     How about you? Have you met the Savior? If you haven’t, keep reading with us through Luke. He’s about to show up. If you have met the Savior, this is a good time to be renewed in his passion for you. This is also a good time to remember you have something wonderful to announce to the world, don’t you? You, too, can be as Elijah and John. You can tell of the Savior’s passion and God’s power to forgive sins. You can proclaim to the world how Jesus has offered his eternal life to those who believe in him.
     Go ahead. Be a Jesus Announcer. Get people excited. Pray their hearts are raised up to meet Jesus. Tell your friends God’s Savior has come for them.
 
Prayer: Open my mouth, Lord, to announce your salvation. In Jesus’ saving power I pray, amen.