“The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute” (Luke 1:21-22).

Something happened, but no one knew what it was.  How many times do things happen around us, but we are not able to understand what is happening?  The Lord is always at work around us.  How much more would be done in this generation if we just believed, went out, and lived what we believe?  Some receive a lesson the hard way, but the point is to learn the lesson knowing that it will be as God determines.

Do you believe?  Through your baptism, God has brought you into His presence.  No longer does one need to tell you that you are in the presence of God.  What are you going to do with this reality?  Will you continue to do nothing, be busy with the things of this world, or listen to the direction of the Lord?  Belief is the action of faith.  It is not about getting it right, but about stepping out in faith believing that God will do what He says He will do.

Lord Jesus, You asked how long would You need to tolerate an unbelieving generation.  I am that generation, but I do not need to live in  unbelief.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to see the miracle You have brought to reality in me through faith.  Guide me in Your grace to boldly walk in and by the faith You have given me.  Help me to understand that it is in my actions that I live out the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time” (Luke 1:19-20).

The Lord God gives and takes away.  We live in this world of dimness and question the One who has created all worlds.  The Lord loves us enough not to stop with our unwillingness to believe in what He is doing.  He will cause what He will cause.  He will do what He will do.  He will give signs so that we may remember and believe.  We live in an unbelieving generation.  But you, will you believe?

Lord, remind me that my belief is what I do.  You have filled me with Your word and despite those in the world around me, many of whom do not believe, help me to receive Your heavenly report and not be unbelieving, but believing.  Everything is in Your hands.  You cause all things to come together according to Your purpose.  Guide me so that I live life believing in You and what You are doing.

Holy Spirit, You speak to me often, but how often do I ignore You?  You are the presence of God and I act as though my unbelieving thoughts might have some merit.  Lead me so that I live into the life You are giving me.  Guide me in order that I may now and always abide in the truth that I am saved by faith and that You are leading the way by grace.  The world calls it impossible, but it actually is the possible hope which You give.  Help me to believe.  Amen.

“Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18).

“God, how do I know You can do what You say?”  How often does the world say just this?  The Creator of all things is questioned about His ability.  The world may do this, but one of the Lord’s priests?  Yes, we all like sheep go astray and do not believe.  We fear the petty bullies, but do not love the One who first loved us.  One may become old and shriveled.  So what?  With God, all things are possible.

Lord, You know where my unbelief needs help.  I look at the situation, and I do not see how it can be resolved.  You created the heavens and earth and all that is.  The world is crazy and believes in just about anything other than You.  Help me to listen when You speak and obey what You are telling me to do.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life which You give, even when I doubt and think it impossible.

Lord Jesus, You were crucified and resurrected as a part of the Father’s plan and You did this for me.  The world screams at me to ignore You; but You have given me faith.  In every situation where I think it impossible, You grant a way to faithfully follow by Your grace.  Lead me in the way I need to go so that I live believing and do not act with unbelief.  Help me learn how to live in this faith You have given.  Amen.

“And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:16-17).

The prophet John was to prepare the way before Jesus.  He came and declared the intent of our Lord and God.  The Lord is careful to give us all the information we need in order that we may humbly come into the salvation which He offers.  We are to have hearts for one another, leaving behind disobedience, and seeking righteousness.  Through these things, we are prepared to walk with the Lord.

Lord You are teaching us that we need to leave behind what we need to leave behind and take up our cross and follow You.  You have prepared the way before each one of us so that what is impossible for us is made possible because You have prepared the way.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to see where You have prepared the way so that I may stay on the narrow path of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You went deliberately through each of the steps necessary for our salvation.  You call for me to take up my cross so that in following You I may be brought with You from death to life.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go and help me each step of the way.  With You, all things are possible.  Guide me in the goodness of Your mercy and grace to humbly walk on the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:14-15).

Before we were in the womb, the Lord knew us.  The son of Zacharias was born for a certain kind of life.  He would not be like most.  This is not a judgement of God as to good or bad, but a call for the purpose for which John would live his life.  We each have a call on our life, and the question is whether or not we will follow that call.  Any child following the Lord is a child that brings joy and gladness.

Lord, humble me to know that You have created me as I am and for Your purpose.  I have the self-will to wander, but I also can relinquish that will for Your will to be done in me.  Lead me by Your Spirit to live according to the direction You give.  You know who I am and what You intend.  Help me to live into Your intention so that I may humbly walk with You always.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming into the world to encounter us where we are so that we could join with You to be where You are.  Help me to understand that everyone has been wonderfully made according to the Father’s purpose.  Guide me into the unity You intend that I may live according to the call You have placed upon my life, learning to love You and my neighbor.  Amen.

“Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John” (Luke 1:12-13).

You too would be afraid.  We say we believe things and then, if they were to actually happen, our unbelief is exposed.  The Lord hears every prayer.  Our God knows us better than we know ourselves.  He will do what He has determined, but we have the ability to deny reality – and we do – so when He actually shows up, we are uncertain and afraid.  Be faithful and learn to trust the Lord at all times.

Lord, You know that I have plenty of doubts and fears.  Help me so that I move beyond them and into the way of life that understands that You truly are with me each step of the way.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to overcome my misgivings and if You send an angel, move me beyond my fear to accept that in many and various ways You do speak to me each day.

Lord Jesus, You have come and You call for me to abide in You as You will abide in me.  When I encounter what I do not understand, help me to be both discerning and trusting.  You know what is coming into my life.  Prepare me to receive Your instruction and listen as You speak.  Aid me to understand that You hear every petition I speak and that Your answer is always for my good because of the Father’s steadfast love.  Amen.

“And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense” (Luke 1:10-11).

Do angels still appear?  Beware, there are angels who come, and you do not know it.  Angels are messengers from God.  Yes, there are the angelic beings, but the Lord sends messengers every day.  Do not focus upon the messenger, but upon the message.  Take in the word of the Lord and know that the word of the Lord never comes back void.  Believe that the Lord sends you messages every day. His Holy Spirit is with you wherever you are.

Lord, I am often of the mind that unless the heavens open and a choir is singing, it cannot be a message from You.  Help me to realize that Your word can come from any place You choose.  Lead me such that I anticipate each day that You will send Your word.  Open my spirit to receive You and to discern that it is You, for I understand that the wicked one will seek to deceive me.

Lord Jesus, teach me to pray.  Help me to be discerning so that I know Your word when it is spoken.  Guide me to better understand the way things are according to the Father.  Aid me to be the moral and decent person You have created me to be.  Lead me in all of Your ways, listening each day as You give me guidance through the Holy Spirit and with any angels You may send my way.  Amen.

“Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense” (Luke 1:8-9).

Zacharias was a priest.  As was probably true of many, members of the tribes mixed through marriage over the years.  John was of the priestly class, and Jesus would be in the lineage of David.  The Lord assigns each of us to where we are.  There are many gifts, but one body.  We each have the duties He has assigned.  Will we be faithful or use the gifts for our own ends?  To be faithful is the highest calling.

Lord, You have created me to be who I am in the circumstances in which You have placed me.  Guide me so that I humbly live the life You have given me.  Let me not covet what is not mine, but seek to be content in every circumstance, doing what You give me to do.  Through all things You will make of me what You intend.  Help me to be faithful to You through all that I experience in this age.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that I may live into the life for which I was created.  Guide me in the right way of living such that I seek to do the best I can.  Help me to develop as Your disciple, learning to love You and my neighbor according to the Father’s will.  Teach me what it means to be a servant and then aid me to serve as You enable me.  Through all things, lead me into faithfulness.  Amen.

“They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years” (Luke 1:6-7).

In those days, it was considered a curse to be without a child.  What a contrast to these days.  The Lord is the Lord and He has His reasons for all things in every age.  The blessings we receive are neither from our good acts nor the result of our bad acts.  The Lord blesses whom He will.  History is His story.  Look for what the Lord is doing amidst all that happens around you.  He has and will bless you.

Lord, this world is very conditional.  So often I think in terms of, “If I do good, You will bless me.”  Help me to think instead that You have and are blessing me.  I am in Your hands and because I am in Your hands You will lead me in the way I need to go.  What will happen will occur and all things will work together for my good because of Your love.  Help me to better understand the way things really are.

Lord Jesus, You walked this world and demonstrated a consistent attitude which lacked anxiety.  You said that You were in constant communion with the Father.  Help me to walk with You and do the same.  This world will go where it goes.  Help me to live a life that is learning the lessons You will teach me.  Whether or not I have what others have, You will give or withhold for Your own reasons.  Lead me to trust You above all circumstances.  Amen.

“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth” (Luke:1:5).

The Gospel gives us the time and place.  Unlike mythology, we can trace the time and place when and where these things happened.  The world tries to deny it, but every attempt at discrediting these things has been shattered.  Although we no longer have the scrolls of the lineage (they were destroyed by the Romans), in that day, it was there and available for the first witnesses.  Luke is reporting on actual indisputable events that took place.

Lord, the arrogance of our era sees many who want to deny these things, but there were no contemporary witnesses who refuted them; but only a claim that Christ was not raised from the dead, despite the hundreds of witnesses who saw the risen Christ.  Help me to not fall for the traps of this unbelieving generation but receive the truth which You have revealed for all people.

Lord, just as it was reported through these words as well as other accounts, this world has been filled with so many who are skeptical and unbelieving.  Bring me through the foolish doubts of this age to understand the truth You have revealed.  Because You live, I too shall live.  In You I have hope and an eternal future.  Come to me in the fulness of the Gospel and reveal what You would have me see and understand.  Amen.