Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 1:17 (New Living Translation)

He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.

In this verse, an angel is speaking to a priest named Zechariah. This man is to have a son whom we came to know as John the Baptist. John, in his own right, will change his world.

John the Baptist will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.

Let’s consider that one for a moment. Have you ever changed someone else’s mind? Have you ever attempted to change someone else’s mind? Have you ever convinced someone to change their ways?

I know my attempts at such greatly outnumber my successes. John, however, was going to do this. The succeeding pages of the Gospels tells us that John succeeded in doing this.

I consider this a miracle—causing the rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. One more example, I believe, that God works miracles around his everyday. We fail, on most occasions, to notice God and his miracles. Please God, help us to see.