“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:76–79, ESV
These words, given by God to Zechariah and spoken over his son, were a prophecy of what John’s life would be. God had set John apart at conception to be the forerunner of our Lord, Jesus Christ. From conception, John had been chosen by God to prepare everyone for the coming of the Lord. He started in the womb as he leaped in his mother’s womb to the time he would meet Jesus at the river to baptize our Lord and reveal the first sign of the Messiah. It was to fulfill prophecy from long ago. God has a calling for all of His chosen to prepare hearts for the second coming of our Lord as we are called to proclaim His glory to the ends of the earth. For those of us chosen by God, it is a call given to us from the beginning. Let our lives lead others to know Christ as Savior and Lord.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.