Thought for the Week - 15th March
Pastor Gareth WatkinsLuke 1: 15-19
“15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He will also 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.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him,
“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,
and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.”
Today we as dedicate the life of a child to God, it highlights the preciousness of that child’s life, which has not come to be by accident.
We are all created of God with a plan a purpose for our lives. In the passage above we read about the plan and purpose that that was given by God to a child not yet born, John the Baptist. That child went on to become one of the greatest men in history who fulfilled an important calling. His purpose was to prepare the way for Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and turn people away from the sins of this world and towards the things of God. John had a great calling on his life, which was planned for him before he was born. John was not born by accident, we are not born by accident. Life is precious, not to be disregarded as nothing as we often see around us in the world today.
A child’s life is precious, and we don’t yet know what they will grow to become, nor for what plan and purpose God has called their life to be. As we continue to read the passage, we see that John the unborn babe spiritually recognised Jesus who was in Mary’s womb.
“39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:39-41, NKJV)
“that the babe leaped in her womb“… What a wonderful thought that these two unborn babes were able to recognise each other spiritually.
A child is a blessing, and it is a privilege and responsibility to see our children brought into the things of God. It is wonderful to watch their faith grow as they say a small prayer, come to know Him and want His provision. We don’t know who they will become, perhaps they will become spiritual giants of our time, turning people to the things of God. Will they fulfil God’s plan and purpose for their lives?
God created every child and every one of us. He gives each of us from the time of our birth, a hope and a future. It is up to us to take it, to walk in God’s way, to fulfil His calling for us, or to turn away from what we were created to become.
Amen
Beautiful word