Has God ever given you an amazing blessing that seemed to come from nowhere? It’s the moments like this that give us a taste of God’s greatest gift to his people.

Luke 1:5-10

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 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.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

This section in Luke precedes a pretty incredible miracle, but here Zechariah is just going about his everyday life, living it for God. Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless, but it’s clear that this didn’t make them bitter. Rather they continued to live in harmony with God, loving him and trusting in him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says:
 ^‘However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him.’

So like it says in Corinthians, God blesses Zechariah and Elizabeth when they least expect it. In this passage of Luke, Zechariah doesn’t even know what’s about to happen (and if you don’t either, you’ll have to stay tuned for tomorrow’s Grow Daily!). He’s just serving God like usual, with no idea of what’s just around the corner.

We can’t always understand God’s timing, but we can know that he has big plans for us…things we can’t even imagine. The greatest of these things has been fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s little cousin, Jesus. This is the gift of life forever with God. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s blessing, and all the blessings God gives all of us in our lives, are just a taste of God’s great glory through which his people are infinitely blessed.

Head: Without reading further in Luke Chapter 1, this passage is simply about a childless priest and his wife living their lives for God. What can this introduction teach us about the nature of God’s love and timing?

Heart: Does this have any impact on the way you feel about God? If so, how?

Hands: Zechariah and Elizabeth are a pretty amazing couple, living for God in spite of their sadness in being unable to bear children. How can this story inspire you to act in your relationship with God?

Prayer:

Father God,

You have so much love for me, and through your divine knowledge your timing is more perfect than I can know. Thank you for everything you bless me with in my life, and thank you for the ultimate blessing of eternal life with you.

Lord, sometimes the difficult times in life can make my heart hard and vulnerable to believing the lie that you are not present. I’m sorry for the times I’ve let these thoughts and feelings control me, and I pray that the stories of people such as Zechariah and Elizabeth would inspire me to live life in obedience to you, trusting that you are good and your promises will be fulfilled.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

A song to listen to: Made Alive

Steph Wiseman