Luke gives us quite the introduction to Zechariah and Elizabeth!
6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Luke 1: 6-7 (NIV)
He lets us know their admirable spiritual status, “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God.” He tugs at our hearts when he announces them “childless.” He lessens the hope by letting us know, “they were both very old.”
We may look at spiritually mature Christians and never know the hurt held deep in their heart. Maybe it was that very hurt that had drawn them so closely to their God! Righteousness will never save us from the hurts and disappointments of life.
I admire Zechariah’s continued act of service. Regardless of his age and disappointment over lack of children he continued in his duty to serve as priest before God. I suspect he did not serve in spite of his pain, rather his pain and disappointment may have been what fueled his servant’s heart to serve well.
Have you experienced your own pain or disappointments? Have they pulled you away from God or fueled you to dig deeper into your service to Him? We see from Zechariah is it possible to continue to walk faithfully with God even in the midst of our greatest disappointments.
Copyright©2017, Gloria Stucky
Originally written for Immanuel Baptist Church 2016
Photo by IB Wira Dyatmika on Unsplash