Meskerem 8 — September 18

Zacharias, the Father of John the Baptist

Zacharias was a priest who loved God, a holy man who served Him in His house. He and his wife Elizabeth were both good and gentle people who followed God's ways.

One day the angel Gabriel came to Zacharias with happy news: he and Elizabeth would have a baby boy named John. Zacharias was so surprised that he could not believe it! So the angel said he would not be able to talk until the baby was born. And it was true. Zacharias stayed quiet all those months. But when little John was born, Zacharias could speak again, and the very first thing he did was praise God and write down the baby's name: John.

When Jesus was a little baby, a worried king named Herod was looking for Him. Elizabeth kept baby John safe by hiding far away in the quiet desert. Herod's soldiers came and asked Zacharias where his son was. Zacharias was brave and would not tell them, because he was protecting little John. The soldiers hurt Zacharias, and he died. But God kept his son John safe in the desert, where John grew up to do great things for God.

His name is John.— Luke 1:63

Moses, the Great Prophet

Today we also remember Moses, one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. He was a close friend of God who shared God's words with the people.

When Moses was a tiny baby, his mother placed him in a little basket on a river to keep him safe. A princess found him and raised him like her own son. But when Moses grew up, he wanted to help his own people, the Hebrews, who were treated unkindly.

When Moses was very old, God spoke to him from a bush that was on fire but did not burn up! God sent Moses to lead his people out of Egypt to freedom. With God's power, Moses did things no one had ever seen. Best of all, God parted a whole sea so the people could walk across on dry ground! God also sent special food called manna from the sky, and made fresh water flow right out of a rock.

Moses loved his people so much that even when they were grumpy and unkind to him, he kept praying for them and was patient. He talked with God like a person talks with a good friend, and his face shone with bright light from being so close to God. Moses lived a very long life and then went home to God, who took loving care of him.

God talked with Moses as a man talks with his friend.— Exodus 33:11

Dimasius, the Brave Friend of the Poor

Dimasius lived in a town in the north of Egypt. He had a kind and loving heart. He loved going to church, he helped people who were poor, and he visited people who were sick to cheer them up.

One day a shining man, full of light, came to Dimasius and told him that he would one day be a martyr, staying faithful to God even when it cost him his life. Dimasius was not sad at all. He was filled with joy! He prayed and asked God to give him strength to be brave.

When the rulers told Dimasius to stop loving Jesus, he would not. He stood up tall and said that Jesus was his Lord. While he was traveling on a boat, Jesus Himself appeared to comfort him and promised him a happy home in heaven forever. Dimasius's heart was so glad. He stayed faithful to the very end and went home to God. Afterward, the people of his town honored him, and God did wonderful miracles to show how much He loved Dimasius.

More Friends of God

On this day we also remember some other faithful friends of God: Lucianus, who was a brave martyr; Jeremiah; two good and honored men named Andewa and Elyanos; and Ammon, a monk who lived a quiet life of prayer.

Each of them loved God in their own way and stayed close to Him. We thank God for all of them, and we ask them to pray for us.