Tuesday, December 19th
Day 23-Answered Prayers
Luke 1:5-22

In Chapter 1 of his Gospel, Luke tells us that the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were an older couple who were very faithful and obedient to God but whose lives were filled with sadness because they had never been able to have a child of their own. How many nights had Elizabeth sat up praying for a child? How many times had Zechariah whispered this prayer at the altar while he served in the temple? As year led onto year, the couple finally came to grips with the reality that they were simply too old to have a child.

Then one day, seemingly out of the blue, God decides to answer this prayer. He sends the angel Gabriel to visit Zechariah in the temple to share the good news…

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John… He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. Luke 1:11-13,16 NIV

Could any of us blame him if he found this hard to believe? He was an old man, and his wife Elizabeth was an old woman, well beyond child-bearing age. To have a child now would take a miracle. Luke records that Zechariah questioned the angel…
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Luke 1:18 NIV

Why this didn’t go over well with the angel Gabriel is an interesting question. (Mary also questioned the angel but was not punished.) Was it because this visit occurred in the temple? Was it because the angel commanded such authority? Was it his tone of voice?

Because of his doubt, Zechariah loses his ability to speak until the baby is born.

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1:20 NIV

Without question, Zechariah’s peaceful, if not incomplete life, was about to be disrupted by the birth of this baby who we know would be the predecessor to the Messiah and would help prepare the people for the coming ministry of Jesus. Now, how would he tell Elizabeth the good news?

Prayer Emphasis: What is something you have prayed for over the years with no answer? Pray for this again today believing that, in God’s timing, your prayer will be answered.

For Family Discussion…
If you put yourself in the place of Zechariah, do you think you would doubt the message of the angel? Why or why not?

What have you prayed for over a period of many months or years? Are you still waiting for an answer? How does it feel to wait so long for answer to prayer without an answer?

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