LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH: The Third Candle

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:13-20

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

LESSON

Sometimes even the prayers of faithful people seem to go unanswered. Zechariah and Elizabeth honored God, and God loved them, but they did not have a child. One day while Zechariah was working in the temple, an angel brought him a message from God, saying that he and Elizabeth were going to have a very special son and that his name was going to be John. Zechariah wasn’t sure he believed the angel, so God took away Zechariah’s voice as a sign of God’s power. Imagine if you had seen an angel who told you wonderful, happy news, and you weren’t able to tell anyone what had happened!

THINK OR TALK ABOUT

How can you tell others about what God has done for you?

PRAYER

Almighty God, give us the courage to tell everyone about your good works.