I was reading Luke Chapter 1, and was amazed at the man Zechariah. He was a priest in the temple of God whose duty was to burn incense. He lived with his wife in a manner that was pleasing to God. Luke 1:6 says they were upright in the sight of God. What made them "upright in the sight of God"?
What did they do to be pleasing to God?
After all, Zechariah's duty in the temple of the Lord was to burn incense.
As I continued to read Luke Chapter 1, I found it more and more difficult to understand what made Zechariah a man pleasing to God. When the Angel Gabriel told him "your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son..." instead of thanking God Zechariah asked "how can I be sure of this?".
Then, I came to verse 23 and suddenly everything became clear to me. Luke 1:23 says "When his time of service was completed, he returned home"
I was shocked! Imagine, if you have been praying for something for a long time, and God sends an Angel to say your prayers will be answered, won't you stop everything you are doing, run and share the news with your family and friends? Get on Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Phone, SMS and let the rest of the world know about it? How often we leave the Lord and HIS mission to go and "celebrate" the good that God sends us?
I thought too little of Zechairah, there is much to learn from the old priest who performed a very small duty at the temple. He did not delegate his duty to someone else so that he can go and celebrate... but continued in his mission until his time of service was over.
Often we forget that God is the greatest blessing in our lives. Often I have second thoughts when I have to go for intercessory prayer. I look at Zechariah, and I see a man who was serving GOD, a man who knew that GOD is the greatest blessing, and being on the mission is the best way to celebrate.
As I continued to read Luke Chapter 1, I found it more and more difficult to understand what made Zechariah a man pleasing to God. When the Angel Gabriel told him "your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son..." instead of thanking God Zechariah asked "how can I be sure of this?".
Then, I came to verse 23 and suddenly everything became clear to me. Luke 1:23 says "When his time of service was completed, he returned home"
I was shocked! Imagine, if you have been praying for something for a long time, and God sends an Angel to say your prayers will be answered, won't you stop everything you are doing, run and share the news with your family and friends? Get on Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Phone, SMS and let the rest of the world know about it? How often we leave the Lord and HIS mission to go and "celebrate" the good that God sends us?
I thought too little of Zechairah, there is much to learn from the old priest who performed a very small duty at the temple. He did not delegate his duty to someone else so that he can go and celebrate... but continued in his mission until his time of service was over.
Often we forget that God is the greatest blessing in our lives. Often I have second thoughts when I have to go for intercessory prayer. I look at Zechariah, and I see a man who was serving GOD, a man who knew that GOD is the greatest blessing, and being on the mission is the best way to celebrate.
Lord Jesus, I live in a world full of distractions and attractions that sometimes get bigger than you in my eyes. Lord, I ask your forgiveness for the things I left you for, and I come and fall at your feet, not wanting to get up from there. But Lord, in a few minutes I go into the world, and once again I will meet those distractions and attractions, but may your presence go with me, may you become my greatest distraction and the attraction.
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