Circle Of Warmth

Still looking at Zechariah and seeing how God’s Circle of Warmth is with us, right now, in available and accessible ways, we pursue more. Indeed, on this final day of the third week in Advent, we continue to receive God’s Good, in marvellous ways.

Correction and Consolation! O may this blessedness of our Heavenly Father’s timely and deserved correction which brings us home to His promised consolation, as is noted in Zechariah, be ours also. May we find and accept the Correction and Consolation in our Lord’s Advent Words which are a Circle of Warmth around us and within us.

Spirit of the Living, Holy God, cast out all our human ways and responses to Your works in us that we may receive and be submissive, in Your correction. May we know heavenly peace and joy in Your Consolation, at this Advent time, with Your Advent Words to us. Amen!

There is Correction - freedom from unbelief and remorse - It is only with the given mind and heart of the Holy Spirit, that Zechariah is able to accept the ‘time-out’, given to him by his Loving, Heavenly Father, who removes his speech for a time. When the priest of God was told that God had answered his prayers and that he would become a father, Zechariah was a bit skeptical, owing to his and his wife’s past child bearing ages. Listen to what Scripture says.

It takes our Lord’s correction, to put away Zechariah’s skepticism, and doubts, in order to believe these Advent Words of God’s heavenly angel. You will be silent and not be able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words.

There are times when, through our Lord’s ‘time-out,’ His ways of disciplining us, that we come to know and accept this fact. No human conditions, whether spiritual or physical, can cause God’s Advent Words to us, to be empty and void. God is Lord! He will accomplish in you what He tells you He will do.

There is Consolation - freedom from human reality - It is only when Zechariah no longer places his physically weak, helpless and dead state, before God’s supernaturally powerful, commanding and living state that he knows, in full, God’s Consolation.

At this point, perhaps your mind, like mine, has been taken to the devout and righteous man named Simeon. This is what we are told. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Luke 2: 25b - 26. Here is a devout servant of God, whose consolation from God is a personal promise. It is that he will not die, before he sees the Baby Jesus, Israel’s consolation. Now here is Zechariah, an upright servant of God, whose consolation from God is a personal promise. It is that he will speak again, after he sees the baby John, Israel’s preparation – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1 : 17b.

Zechariah remained serving God but he could not speak. His son has been born and when Zechariah is asked about naming him, he asks for a writing tablet and writes this, to everyone’s amazement. His name is John. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Luke 1: 63b – 65.

God is a God who will bring consolation to you, after you have waited for His prescribed time. Whatever He has promised you will come to pass and you and all believers will know consolation in Him.

We affirm, as we close this Third week of Advent with unobtrusive faith and confidence that God’s Circle of Warmth brings: -

Comfort - There is comfort when you know that you have been surrounded by the protection of your Heavenly Father’s power. Amen!

Courage – There is courage when you know that you are encircled by God’s Almighty strength. You are shrouded with courage in any battle, as you trust in your Father God. Amen!

Correction – There is correction in your life and this warms you because you know that God indeed loves you. You know, because Father God corrects those whom He loves. To know that God loves you enough to correct you, to bring changes in you, warms your heart. Amen!

Consolation – There is consolation, as only God can do. He offers you His freedom and peace. In the midst of your life’s trials and troubles, you are consoled to know that God still surrounds you, that He has not abandoned you and that all that you are given to face is to all your personal good, so that your life will be pleasing unto Him. Amen!