WHAT ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH
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4 D E CE MB E R
FROM SHAME TO HONOUR Heavenly Father, thank You for Your eternal faithfulness to me. All I need is found in Your presence; please help me to rest expectantly in You now. Amen
L UKE 1 : 1 8–25 18
Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.’
The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’ 19
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realised he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 21
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 ‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.’ 23
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t’s that time of the year again, when families gather to celebrate the festive season together. Some of us, however, dread meeting certain ‘concerned’ relatives whose questions can make those of us who are still single, childless or still have something to ‘achieve’, feel that there’s something wrong with us. Imagine the plight of Elizabeth, who was LUKE 1:25 childless despite being married for many years. In her culture, that was seen as a sign of God’s disfavour (SEE 1 SAMUEL 1:5–6) and could actually be considered shameful. So while Elizabeth had been living righteously (LUKE 1:6), her neighbours and relatives may have suspected otherwise. Nonetheless, Elizabeth and her husband continued to serve the Lord faithfully. Then, when both were well advanced in years, a miracle occurred. God heard her prayer (V. 13). He loves to show us His favour (V. 25). And though He may seem to delay, His timing is always right and His wisdom always perfect. For Elizabeth and her husband, God had a special gift: a child who would become the Messiah’s forerunner (ISAIAH 40:3–5). Do you feel inadequate because you seem to lack something—a university degree, a spouse, a child, a job, a house? Keep living for Him faithfully and waiting patiently for Him and His plan, just as Elizabeth did. No matter our circumstances, God is working in and through us. He knows your heart. He hears your prayers. o POH FANG CHIA
[THE LORD] HAS SHOWN HIS FAVOUR AND TAKEN AWAY MY DISGRACE AMONG THE PEOPLE.
Read today’s passage again. What are the things in your life of which you can say, “The Lord has done this for me”? Why not spend some time thanking Him for His loving provision.
God, You are forever faithful and good. Help us to keep trusting in You, even when we experience heartache.
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