Daily Devotional Sunday 24th December 2023
by William MoodyLuke 1:18–25
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
(ESV)
For Zechariah this news of his son being born and being greatly used by God was too much for him to take in (v18). When Zechariah questions the angel his response is to give his credentials (v19). The one who stands in the presence of God will not lie.
Gabriel says that Zechariah will now be unable to speak until John is born because of his lack of faith (v20). Outside the people were wondering why Zechariah took so long (v21) and when he came out they understood something special had happened (v22).
Being in the presence of the Lord is where amazing things can happen. How much do we miss out on by neglecting coming into God’s presence as much as we should.
God’s promises came through for Zechariah and Elizabeth (v24-25). For this elderly couple they felt shame at not being able to have children although of course it was not their fault. We need to pray for and be sensitive to couples who don’t have children. Sometime sit is their choice but often it is not and great pain can be their experience.
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