18 DECEMBER 2023
Salvation
“To give to His people the knowledge of salvation.” (Luke 1:77)
Stumpy and his wife Martha visited their local Agricultural Show every year and each time they would have the same conversation when they came to the guy who flew people around the Showgrounds in his old crop-dusting biplane. Stumpy would say, “Martha, I would love to ride in that old airplane” and Martha would always reply, “I know, but it costs 10 dollars, and 10 dollars is 10 dollars.”
After several years of this, Stumpy said, “Martha, I’m 71 years old and if I don’t ride the airplane this year, I don’t think I ever will.” And Martha replied as usual, “10 dollars is 10 dollars.”
The pilot, hearing their conversation, made them an offer. “Folks, I will take you both up in my plane, and if you don’t say anything, I won’t charge you a cent. But if you utter a single word or sound, I will charge you both 10 dollars!”
Well, Stumpy and Martha couldn’t resist an offer like that, so they climbed into the back seats and the plane took off. The pilot did rolls, twists, turns, loop the loops, and terrifying nose dives – he tried every trick he knew to get one of them to scream or say something – but not a sound came from the back seats!
When they landed, the pilot turned and said to Stumpy, “Wow, I tried everything I knew, but I couldn’t get you to even make a sound.” Stumpy replied, “Well, I was going to say something when Martha fell out, but 10 dollars is 10 dollars!”
Some people will remain tight-lipped about anything!
This is not so with Zacharias. After over 9 months of silence, he bursts into song at the birth of his son John. And it’s a song of praise to God because John’s birth – he will become the preparer of people’s hearts for the coming Messiah – signals the dawn of God’s salvation for all mankind.
“Blessed be the Lord God, because He has (saved) His people.” (Luke 1:68)
When this truth breaks into your heart, nothing will hold you back from singing about it!
Read Luke 1:67-79. What is the theme of Zacharias’ song?