“The angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you.’”

Luke 1:13-14
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous people, descendants from the priestly line. Childless throughout most of their years together, they had prayed longingly for a child. But they had grown old and well beyond the typical years of childbearing. When sorrow overwhelmed them, they may have done what you and I would do: question God’s plans. But then the Lord divinely interrupted their lives with unexpected, wonderful news.

Oh, the joy that is reflected in Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:67-79)! Praise to the God of Israel springs up where sorrow and disappointment had once lived. When their son was born, already there was a call upon his life to prepare for the coming and ministry of Jesus, the Most High (v. 76).

When answers to our prayers are delayed or are not what we wanted, our hope may wane. My mother prayed her entire life for a loved one to be freed from addiction. It wasn’t to be so until a few years after my mother’s death. We keep our hope rooted solidly in the God who loves us and has planned out every day of our lives.



Scripture Focus

Luke 1:5-20

Insight

Remember the heroes of faith from Hebrews 12. They didn’t live to see what had been promised. Yet God had something better for them (v. 39-40).

Bible In A Year

  • Job 26-28
  • Psalm 55
  • Luke 18

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