Luke 1:5-7
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read Luke 1:5-7 noting anything that stands out to you about Elizabeth and Zechariah.
Luke begins by placing Elizabeth and Zechariah in history at an actual time – the reign of Herod. And Luke also points out that both Zechariah and Elizabeth are descended from priestly ancestral lines with Elizabeth a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and the first high priest of Israel.
These two were born close to the end of God’s 400-year silence, so they never heard a reliable word from God delivered through a prophet of God’s choosing. But in spite of a lack of signs and messages from God, they remained fully committed to God’s good and perfect ways.
Take a moment to remember a time or times in your life when it felt like God was distant from you, and recall how you reacted. Talk openly with Jesus about this.
Read Luke 1:5-7 again.
In first century Israel children were considered a blessing from God and a sign of God’s favor, so the inability to bear children carried a cultural stigma. Elizabeth and Zechariah not only lived without signs and messages from God, they endured the disgrace of being childless. And yet they remained faithful.
In our present-day culture, many people consider things like wealth, health, career success, and freedom from problems to be signs of God’s favor. And if these deteriorate, some people become disillusioned and even angry with God. But the truth is that we live and broken world and we often experience consequences from our own brokenness and from that of the people around us.
The absence of difficulties is not a good barometer for God’s favor.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples of the joy that will follow the sadness they are about to experience because of his crucifixion. Take a moment to contemplate Jesus’ words:
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Now take some time to consider how you think about God’s blessings and favor. Then get still and listen to Jesus for a while.
What might Jesus want you to learn from the example of Elizabeth and Zechariah?
How will you respond?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
