December 16

ZECHARIAH AND ELIZABETH

Luke 1:5-25

God’s whole desire is that His message of Jesus’ life be believed and lived through each one of us.  Zechariah and Elizabeth had been waiting a very long time to have a child.  God’s desire for their life was not only to have a child to enjoy, but that they, and this child, would be one’s who would believe in and give glory to Jesus.

Zechariah and Elizabeth had been for many years worshipping God, and praying that He would give them a son.  The angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and said that his prayers had been heard, and he now will have a son.  But, did Zechariah believe that God cared enough for him to answer his prayer?  We see in verse 20 that he did not.  Gabriel said to him, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.

We are impatient and loose faith when things do not seem to turn out the way we think they should, or as quickly as we think they should.  We like to be in control and know what is going to happen, even before it comes about.  Our God has a much different timetable than we have.  2 Peter 3:8-9 tells us Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Luke 11:9-13 tells us if we ask, it will be given us, if we seek, we will find; if we knock, it will be opened to us.  Our God is a good God, who desires to give us good gifts.  Christ in you, the hope of glory!  Colossians 1:27   What a promise!  Jesus tells us in John 6:29 that our work is to believe Him.   Ask yourself today—Do I believe that all the promises in the Holy Bible are for me?  Do I believe that God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son that if I believe in Him I should not perish but have everlasting life?

Come this day to the throne of God’s grace, and surrender your life to Jesus.  Believe with all your heart that Jesus loves you—He died for you.  Take His righteousness as your own.  Apart from Him, we are nothing.  Don’t be like Zechariah, not believing the message that the angel gave him.  If you do, you will be like Zechariah—mute and unable to speak.  But, Praise God, when Zechariah believed, and that new life was born, he had much to say to the           Glory of God.  Praise Jesus!

~ Debbie Frantz