ESOCS Devotional 24 July 2021
TEXT: LUKE 1:5-25
MEMORY VERSE: “And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months…” (Luke 1:24 KJV).
Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, were known for their holiness. They were known for doing special work for God. But they shared the pain of barrenness. Of them, the Bible said, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” (Luke 1 6, 7). In Jewish culture, this condition was considered not having God’s blessing. They felt humiliated and hopeless. But, at fullness of time, God showed great mercy to Elisabeth; she gave birth to John the Baptist. Her cousins and neighbours rejoiced with her (Luke 1:57, 58).
God answers prayer in His own way and at His own time. He works in an impossible situation, in Elisabeth’s case, to bring about the fulfilment of all the prophecies about the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
There is nothing too hard for Him to do (Jeremiah 32:17, 26; Luke 1:37). If we want to have our prayers answered, we must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. We must be patient and allow Him to work in His ways (Isaiah 55:8) and at His time [John 2:4]. Most delays are not from God, even though He knows about them (Matthew 13:24,25), but we should firmly attach ourselves to God because without Him, we can do nothing [John 15:5; Philippians 4:13]. We should be fervent in prayer like Zacharias and Elisabeth.
Zacharias becomes our hero for those times when we doubt God, yet are willing to obey Him. Again, we gain hope from his story that God can do great things through anyone who is available to Him.
Life challenges can really threaten our faith seriously, but remember, He makes impossibility possible.
- Are there challenges threatening your faith and trust in God?
- Ask God to increase your faith and conquer for you.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Genesis 18:14; Matthew 19:16-26
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ESOCS Devotional 24 July 2021
