And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him. But the angel said to him, “Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard. And your wife, Elizabeth, shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:11-13
Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, appeared to Zacharias while Zacharias was offering incense in the temple and told him not to be afraid, because his prayer had been heard and his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son, whom he was to name John. Though Zacharias’ prayer may have been years ago while Elizabeth was still in her childbearing years, God answered it in His own time and for His purpose: to send John — God is gracious — into the world to prepare His people for the coming of the Lord, their Messiah and Savior.
Hear my prayers, O God, and grant them in accord with Your perfect will and purpose that I may repent of my sinful ways and trust in Jesus, Your Son, and my Savior, for forgiveness, pardon, and life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7
Zacharias and Elizabeth, both descended from Aaron and of the tribe of Levi, were childless — something counted as a curse and judgment of God in those days. But the barrenness of Elizabeth was not a judgment because of sin in their lives, for they were both counted righteous in God’s eyes through faith in the promise of God to send one who would “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:8), and they faithfully lived in accord with the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Instead, God planned to use them to fulfill His promise to send a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord’s coming (cf. Mal. 4:5-6).
Grant me faith, O God, to accept Your plan for my life not as a curse but as a blessing and a part of Your eternal purpose to save lost souls. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I will have mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:12-13
The Pharisees (a legalistic sect that believed one could be righteous in God’s eyes by strictly observing the law) were critical of Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, but Jesus pointed out that He came to save sinners by calling on them to repent and look to Him in faith for God’s pardon and forgiveness. God desires mercy rather than a legalistic fulfillment of the law regarding sacrifices (cf. Hosea 6:6). He desires true repentance and faith rather than an outward performance of religious rites and rituals.
O gracious and merciful God, grant that I show mercy toward others and forgive them as You have forgiven me for the sake of Christ Jesus and His cross. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
“Since many have undertaken to set in order a declaration of those things that are most surely believed among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty of those things in which you have been instructed.” Luke 1:1-4
Why did Luke write to Theophilus? To give him an orderly account regarding the life and work of Jesus Christ from His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension — an account based on the eye-witness testimony of those who were there and could attest to the facts related to Jesus and His fulfillment of what the Scriptures had foretold. Luke wrote so that Theophilus could know, with certainty, the truthfulness of what he had been taught. Luke’s Gospel and all of the Scriptures give us certainty of the truthfulness of what we have been taught regarding our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grant that I read and study Your inspired Word, O Lord, that I may know the truth and place my faith in You and what You have accomplished for me on the cross. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the LORD, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
As God promised to salvage and rebuild the ruined lives of His people after they were carried away into captivity for their sin and rebellion against Him, God still salvages and rebuilds ruined lives today by calling lost and condemned sinners to faith in Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness and then recreating them and giving them new hearts by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.
O gracious and merciful God, I have sinned and ruined the life You gave me. Forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake and renew my heart that I may live for You. Amen.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV, copyright 2022, 2025. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc. Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.]
