God Has Heard

Reading: Luke 1:5-25

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 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.” (Luke 1:8-17 NLT)

Zechariah and Elizabeth were old! It was their heart’s desire to have a child, but it seemed impossible, too late! Then an angel appeared to Zechariah in the sanctuary and told him their prayers were answered, their heart’s desire fulfilled, and they would spend the rest of their lives raising a son who was to be the next key player in God’s redemptive plan! Zechariah’s primary role shifted from being a priest who did priestly things to raising a son who would “prepare the people for the coming of the Lord!”

The angel gave them one specific instruction about raising John, but left all the details up to them. It was a big task! But they “were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.” God knew they would do a good job parenting the “Preparer of the Way”!

I thought about the life Jean and I have lived. We’ve done a lot of “priestly” things. Our life for the past 55 years has been Christian ministry: Local church ministry, overseas missions, developing Bible training centers and teaching resources. Now we’re old and the focus shifts to influencing younger people who are going to do great things to further God’s redemptive plan! Are you in a season in which the focus must change? Embrace it, scary as it may seem! It’s only for good!

Prayer:

Father, We embrace the seasons of change! They’re always exciting, always a little scary, and always require letting go and learning new things. Help me and my friends reading this to adjust our role as needed. Lead us, teach us, let us find or create opportunities to influence and encourage those who will take us forward! Amen!