Behold, I make all things new!

Thursday, December 2 Luke 1:68-79

Fear and I have become better acquainted during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have felt afraid that my children will get COVID, particularly my new baby. I have felt afraid for my aging parents’ health. I have felt afraid about overwhelmed hospital systems. I have felt afraid of increasingly polarized and uncivil behaviors in our city and nation. 

Fear is paralyzing. Fear can be all consuming. Fear devours. Fear can be helpful: it gets our attention and keeps us safe. But fear serves best as a temporary way station – our ancestors used it to outrun predators – not a place to dwell.

This passage from Luke is the song of Zechariah, who had plenty to fear. His wife of advanced age had just birthed a son, foretold by an angel who made Zechariah mute when Zechariah laughed at the news. When the son – John the Baptist – is born, Zechariah’s voice is restored, and he praises God. But the neighbors are afraid (Luke 1:65) and Zechariah’s son John will later be executed by a Roman ruler. There is much to fear.

Yet Zechariah says we are to serve God without fear. Without fear? What does that mean? What would that look like in our lives? How can we serve God without fear when we live in a scary time?

A pastor friend has memorized the song of Zechariah, and recites it on his daily morning run, usually at dawn. He has recited Luke 1:68-79 on run after run, year after year, through joys and heartbreaks. Dwelling in the word of God, even when he’s afraid, has made the difference. 

I can’t end this pandemic or outrun all my fears. But I can pick up a children’s Bible and read stories to my children. I can open a devotional app on my phone and dwell in God’s word. I can share my struggles with a friend, and we can pray for each other. When we live in God’s word, we dwell more in Christ and less in fear. We are then freed to serve. 

God, cover us with your life-giving word. Sheltered there, let us serve You without fear. Amen. 

Rev. Lisa Smith Fiegel – Director for Evangelical Mission, Alaska Synod 

Luke 1:68-79

 ⁶⁸"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
 for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
 ⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty savior for us
 in the house of his servant David,
 ⁷⁰as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
 ⁷¹that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
 ⁷²Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
 and has remembered his holy covenant,
 ⁷³the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
 to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
 might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness
 before him all our days.
 ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
 for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
 ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people
 by the forgiveness of their sins.
 ⁷⁸By the tender mercy of our God,
 the dawn from on high will break upon us,
 ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
 to guide our feet into the way of peace."