Thought for the Week

Scriptures to Read:

Daniel 8:15-17 & 26-27

Daniel 9:1-6

Daniel 9:7-14

Daniel 9:15-19

St. Luke 1:11-17

St. Luke 1:68-79

St. Luke 1:28-38

I AM WRITING THIS ON VETERANS DAY. Today evoked many memories. I prayed for a number of folks who served. Normally, I use the four weeks of December to think about the Christmas Story and those involved with major roles. This year I thought I might write about those who are important but not so much in the spotlight.

I begin with the angel Gabriel. We often think his first appearance was to the elderly priest Zechariah. Let me just say whenever Gabriel makes an appearance, the lives of people are greatly impacted. It was most certainly so here. Gabriel reminded Zachariah God never forgets His promises and never ignores the prayers of His people.

This was personal for Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth. They had prayed for a child for many years. It seemed this could not happen. God remembered them. More importantly God remembered His people Israel. The child now announced by Gabriel would be the beginning of God's answer for the salvation of His people.

However, Gabriel had made an appearance some 550 years earlier to the prophet Daniel. Daniel was a captive taken in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. He lived through the reigns of several kings. Daniel had had several visions. In answer to Daniel's questions about his most recent vision, Gabriel brought an answer.

Daniel was driven to prayer acknowledging the righteousness, the mercy and the forgiving nature of God. He also recounted the sinfulness of his own people. Most certainly he knew Israel deserved all the punishment they had received.

In his continuing vision, he was made aware God had a plan to bring Israel back to Himself. His plan would take the more than 500 years until the time of Zachariah to begin implementation. Zachariah's son, John, was the bringer of God's unfolding plan. He, too, called people to repentance. John's life was radically different from that expected for the son of a priest.

The next step for Gabriel was to visit the young Virgin Mary. Gabriel told her she had been chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah, the Christ, The One Daniel called "The Son of Man." Mary's life was changed. She clearly made herself available as the servant of God.

Though not named in other appearances, it is possible Gabriel appeared to Joseph, betrothed husband of Mary, to shepherds on a Judean hillside with the news of the birth of Christ. Without doubt, Gabriel's appearance and his words forever changed the lives of Daniel, Zachariah, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and many more. His appearances caused people to see God in His splendor and people to see themselves in their desperate need for humble surrender to the will of God.

As we approach Christmas, I hope we can get a grip on these truths ourselves. Our world is filled with sin including open rebellion against God. God may not choose to send Gabriel again. God has given us His Word. Study the Scriptures. Learn from those who had a part, even a minor part, in the Story of Christmas. The word "Christmas" means the birth of Christ. Do not let the cacophony of this wicked world distract you from the Christmas Story.

God is the same as Daniel saw – His righteousness, His mercy and His forgiving nature – in Daniel's time. The world today is much the same as it was. God still wants us to humbly repent and surrender to Him, so He can save us. Hark to the Herald angel.