We are SO excited to be sharing an excerpt from our NEW Advent study, The Waiting & Wonder, available inside the LO sister app! We pray this encourages you and meets you where you’re at this holiday season!

Today’s Passage:

Luke 1:8-17

“Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him and angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.’“ (ESV)

Devo:

We tend to think of Zechariah’s encounter here as something miraculous in his everyday work. However, I don’t think that’s quite how it played out. Scripture tells us he’s in the order of Abijah which according to the Old testament is the 8th division out of 24. If each division served one week at a time, they would only serve twice a year. Out of the 2 times a year they may be on duty, only one man was chosen, and how many men were in each division after many generations had passed? I say all of this to say: it is very likely that this was a once in a lifetime experience for him to even be standing where he’s standing. The crowd is gathered outside because it is the time of incense. In the Bible, incense is symbolic of the prayers of God’s people. At this moment in time, without the blood of the Lamb, gathering outside the temple at this hour was essentially the closest in time and space they could get to God’s presence. This means that Zechariah is standing the closest to God’s presence he has possibly ever been. And what does the angel say? That the Lord has heard his prayer. Could this mean that even after all this time, despite all odds, that in this rare, one-in-a-lifetime moment of unhindered prayer the cry of Zechariah’s heart was still for a child? Even with the wildest chances, the timing could only be a work of God, and was believed to be the will of God as they viewed casting lots to determine his will. God had designed this moment from the beginning of time to bring the voice in the wilderness—John the Baptist—who would prepare the way for Immanuel—God with us. However, what’s equally true is that Zechariah is here because he’s spent a lifetime walking faithfully in the commandments and statutes of the Lord. His waiting wasn’t spent sitting—it was spent serving. Half of waiting is God’s good and perfect will, but the other half is our own refinement. God prepared the timing and divine appointment, but Zechariah had a heart prepared due to a lifetime of willing obedience.

Questions:

1). How are you spending your waiting? Sitting or serving?

2). Where in your life can you be obedient right now to the Lord? Where is he calling you to serve in your waiting?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your sovereignty. Thank you that you are working ALL things for the good of those who love you. God, we don’t understand it, can’t fathom it, and often don’t even see it. But God, help us to rest in the truth that you ARE working, you are renewing and bringing new beginnings every single day. And you’re bringing some forth right now as we pray this together. Would you give us eyes to see it Lord? Don’t let my waiting be wasted, God, but help us prepare our own hearts for the plans you are preparing. Would you reveal to us where we need to seek obedience? We love you, Lord. Amen.

Original content written by Hallie Dye for LO sister app.