Luke 1 is quite an impactful opening of the Gospel. It opens with snippets from the life of Zacharias. Zacharias is such a great example of many Christians today, I being no exception. The story of Zacharias and his interaction with the angel Gabriel is a beautiful reminder of what happens in our hearts as we walk with the Lord. I’d encourage us to read this story with fresh eyes and open hearts (perhaps for the hundredth time). If we look closely, we might discover that the Holy Spirit is seeking to awaken us to the true meaning of Christmas that we can easily treat too casual.
What I noticed quickly in Luke 1:5-7 is that Zacharias and Elizabeth were blameless but barren. They were doing the right things, but yet experiencing the undesirable results. That might be one of the greatest ways the Lord leads us to being more faithful. We may constantly find ourselves in situations where we are challenged to do the right thing, knowing that we will experience undesirable results. Yet, in those moments we can be confident that God is watching and will one day be more important than that temporary result we were longing for. The story of Christmas is sometimes best appreciated during times when we are blameless but still barren.
However, the observation that really connected with me is found in verses 8-20. Zacharias is serving in the temple of the Lord. He had been chosen to burn incense before the Lord which was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Zacharias is praying and there is a multitude outside praying at the same time. He enters the temple and becomes troubled by what he saw. Have there been prayers you have been praying for so long, that you really don’t expect God to answer any more? You still pray them, maybe sometimes with a little more fervor than others, but you really have given up. That is Zacharias. He is the guy heavily involved in service to the Lord but really kind of going through the motion. He is certainly a Godly example worth following and one you’d want your daughter to marry. He is still passionate but beneath the surface there is a level of unbelief. Now this not a salvation issue, but it is likely an area where the disappointment is too heavy to face so we bury it. I connect with Zacharias because I am he. There are seasons of unbelief that sneak up unaware. I still believe that God is able, but I wonder if He wants to do it for me. Yet through the pain, God shows up and does something that surpasses our expectations.
Christmas is about God showing up at the perfect time to do something so much greater than what you and I were asking for. That is what God does in Zacharias life and perhaps is doing in yours. There is more I’ll share later but ponder that for a moment for now.
