Rev. Rob Jones
November 10, 2025

Luke 1:68-79 (A praise song of Zechariah)
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Introduction: Setting the Thanksgiving Context

I invite you to pause for a moment. I invite you to reflect on the many ways God has blessed you. We too often focus on what’s wrong or what can go wrong. We spend so much time doing that, and we miss what is going right. Call it pessimism, pragmatism, or even practicality. In the end, you either see the glass as half full or half empty. This season of Thanksgiving invites us to look back with gratitude and ahead with hope, remembering that every good gift comes from our Lord. Today, we turn to Luke 1:68-79, Zechariah’s song, which speaks of God’s promises fulfilled and the light of Christ dawning on a waiting world.

God’s Faithfulness: Reflection on God’s Promises and Fulfillment in Christ

Zechariah’s words begin with praise: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” Zechariah is a new dad. He is blessed with something he and his wife thought they would never have. This is an essential lesson in Luke chapter 1. We get caught up in the Birth of Jesus and the birth of John the Baptist, but here God is showing us that even when we resign ourselves to a world view like, “I cannot have children.” Or “I’m done having children.” God may have different plans. God’s faithfulness to us does not depend on our strength, but on His steadfast love. Through many generations, God kept His promise to send a Savior, and in Jesus, that promise is fulfilled. This Thanksgiving, stop and reflect on how God has been faithful in your own life. Is there someone in your life that God was faithful to? Do they see it? Where else has God been faithful? How has He been faithful in the life of our church family?

Gratitude: Responding to God’s Mercy with Thankfulness

So, Zechariah sings! He is joyful and thankful for mercy remembered and rescue from fear. He is grateful for more than the birth of his son, John; he is thankful for the path God has put John on, because it is a critical one, for John and for Israel. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday where we overeat and watch football. —It is a posture of the heart. As recipients of God’s grace, we are quietly invited to respond in gratitude. Sometimes it’s hard to hear over the noise of family, store sales, and parades. But if we slow down a bit and listen, we can hear the Spirit call us. Perhaps, if we listen and obey the call, as we count our blessings this week, we might recall moments when God’s hand guided, comforted, and provided for us in unexpected ways.

Light and Guidance: How God’s Light Leads Us to Peace and Purpose

Luke 1:78-79 speaks of “the sunrise” visiting us from on high, shining on those in darkness and guiding our feet into the way of peace. The sunrise is often used as a metaphor for God's light. The sun gives us light and warmth. It is the reason we can inhabit this world. But the true light of God does not merely illuminate our path—it brings us comfort and direction. 

Paul tells us that we see now only a reflection of God, as in a mirror. But when we see the true light of God, we will understand what God has done for us all along. As we walk into the days ahead, may this light draw us together in unity and purpose, guiding us to share peace in a world longing for hope.

Serving Others: Subtle Encouragement to Share God’s Blessings with the Community

Zechariah’s song reminds us that we are “rescued to serve.” Our thanksgiving manifests itself as gratitude for the blessings of a faithful God. Our gratitude can overflow in quiet acts of kindness—a phone call to a neighbor, a gentle word to someone in need, or a prayer for those who feel alone. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and in true gratitude of spirit, may we pause to consider how the blessings we have received might be a light for others, not out of obligation, but out of joyful response to God’s goodness. 

Conclusion: Prayerful Reflection and Gentle Call to Action

As you pause to contemplate like Zachariah, you do not have to break out in song. [But how interesting would that be for the rest of your family? For my family it would be that strange, but for some of us I bet that story would definitely be retold at Christmas.] Seriously, take a moment this year to sit in silence and talk to God. Offer a prayer of thanks for God’s faithfulness and mercy. Look for ways that Christ’s peace has guided your heart. Approach this coming week with a renewed spirit of joy and gratitude and may the light of His love inspire us to reflect His grace in our words and actions. Perhaps, in the quiet moments of our lives, we can all find small ways to share these blessings with those around us, trusting that God will use even the simplest gestures for His glory.