During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:5-17, CEB)
Zechariah prayed for a son, and his prayers were heard, and when he entered the temple after being chosen by lot to go, an angel appeared to him and scared him.
How would you react if you went into the temple and started to light the incense, and all of a sudden, there was someone else standing there at the altar with you?
The angel clearly told Zechariah they would have a son and he was to be named John and he would be a prophet. I honestly think I would be more scared about this, than the person who was not supposed to be in the temple with me.
A prophet of the most high is not going to have a fun life.
But are not we all called to be a spokesperson for God? To proclaim God’s love in the world?
Know God for told your birth just as God did John’s. God is counting on you to speak truth in love and show the world that God loves them.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 