“He shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17
As prophesied some 400 years earlier by Malachi, John the Baptist would go before the LORD “in the spirit and power of Elijah” to turn God’s people back from their idolatrous ways to the true God, from living in sin and disobedience to God’s commandments to living by faith in God’s Word. Followers of Christ Jesus continue the work of John the Baptist by calling on all to repent of their sinful ways, looking to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, and then walking in accordance with God’s Word.
Forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake, O God, and move me to walk according to the truth of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
“No man puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment. For what is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do men put new wine into old bottles. Otherwise, the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish. But they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16-17
The gospel of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ cannot be used as a patch for a religion of rituals and traditions, nor is the true Christian faith compatible with a system of outward works and rites. Combining them destroys both. Rather, God’s offer of pardon and forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus and His cross moves believers to faith and joy in God’s grace and mercy in Jesus.
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and life and glory in Your grace rather than trying to be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight by man-made rituals and traditions. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.” Luke 1:15-16
The angel told Zacharias that the child to be born to Elizabeth — John the Baptist — would play an important role in God’s plan of salvation for lost mankind. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb and “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” by calling on them to turn from their sinful and erring ways to the Lord God for mercy and forgiveness in the promised Messiah and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. Followers of Christ continue this great work today (cf. Luke 24:46-47).
Grant that I be found ready for Christ’s return, O God — that I turn from my evil ways to You for pardon and forgiveness in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, my Savior, and continue in this great work of calling all to repent and trust in Him. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him. But the angel said to him, “Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard. And your wife, Elizabeth, shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:11-13
Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, appeared to Zacharias while Zacharias was offering incense in the temple and told him not to be afraid, because his prayer had been heard and his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son, whom he was to name John. Though Zacharias’ prayer may have been years ago while Elizabeth was still in her childbearing years, God answered it in His own time and for His purpose: to send John — God is gracious — into the world to prepare His people for the coming of the Lord, their Messiah and Savior.
Hear my prayers, O God, and grant them in accord with Your perfect will and purpose that I may repent of my sinful ways and trust in Jesus, Your Son, and my Savior, for forgiveness, pardon, and life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7
Zacharias and Elizabeth, both descended from Aaron and of the tribe of Levi, were childless — something counted as a curse and judgment of God in those days. But the barrenness of Elizabeth was not a judgment because of sin in their lives, for they were both counted righteous in God’s eyes through faith in the promise of God to send one who would “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:8), and they faithfully lived in accord with the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Instead, God planned to use them to fulfill His promise to send a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord’s coming (cf. Mal. 4:5-6).
Grant me faith, O God, to accept Your plan for my life not as a curse but as a blessing and a part of Your eternal purpose to save lost souls. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
