Daily Worship

Your son will turn fathers’ hearts

Albert Bogle December 02, 2021 0 1
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Luke 1: 14-17 (NRSVA)

14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 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. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 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.’

Father and son conversations can be difficult as the song recorded by Mike and the Mechanics in the 1980s highlighted. However this conversation recorded by Luke gives us a glimpse into another kind of conversation. It involves an angel speaking to a father about his unborn son. It is truly inspirational. Angels will always raise the conversation to a higher level. They see the beauty and the glory because they stand in the presence of God. What an inspiring conversation to be let in on. To be told that your son would be the key player in turning the hearts of a nation to God.

The part of the conversation that I think is so relevant today is the part that says “he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children.” What a different world it would be if children were put at the centre of all our hopes, dreams and ambitions. What a different church we would have if we were prepared to listen to God’s vision for the church of the 21st century and make space to listen to those whose hearts are turning towards the needs of the children in our midst.

 

PRAYER:

 

Lord

Raise up the prophets and the prophetess

Who will turn our hearts

To our children

Give us the humility

And the energy

To make space

For the children to worship among us

 

Lord

Give courage to leaders and mentors

Whose hearts have been turned

To the children

To share their calling

And their vision

To make space

For the children to come among us