“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both 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 of the Lord (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 is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]