Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Luke 1:5-7

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Right here in Scripture we have an example of what we know to be true (and have likely experienced), and probably wish were not true: bad things happen to good people. Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful, devout, righteous before God. But life did not go according to plan; they did not get want they wanted or thought they needed, not for a long time. And yet… they were still faithful. Both, though “advanced in years” (a.k.a. old), still remained faithful, devout, righteous before God. They did not know in all those years how God would come through, or even if He would. They did not know when or if He would answer their prayers. At some point, I imagine that Elizabeth stopped asking God for a child. Maybe she got tired of asking, and eventually she saw physically that there was no point in asking anymore.

Or was there?

I admit that I have given up asking for things from God, things I thought would be good, and things that were in my own plans, and even things that I thought God directed me to ask for. It’s hard to keep praying when we don’t see answers, and when we feel like we’ve gotten the short end of the stick too many times. 

And yet… Zechariah and Elizabeth did not know the miracle God had already prepared for them, and the greater story He was telling and including them in. Wow! Today, be encouraged to stay faithful, walking in God’s ways, asking Him for “impossible” things. Let’s remain expectant for God’s miraculous power to show up.

Prayer:

Luke 1:13-17

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Lord, today we pray that You will make people in the Buddhist world prepared to meet You. Please send laborers into Your harvest field, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that as people turn to Jesus, You will work powerfully in their lives:

– please turn the hearts of fathers to their children—heal family relationships and use their reconciliation to be a powerful testimony to other families, for Your Name’s sake.

– please turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just—rescue people from sin, poor choices, and addiction to live in Your wisdom and righteousness, showing Your power to deliver and Your empowerment for living a Christlike life.

In the powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.