“Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot...
"... your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son...He will be a joy and delight to you... He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” – Luke 1, NIV
What was a high honor for a priest to be chosen to burn
incense in the Holy of Holies. Yet, something was missing: relationship with
YHWH. It had been a very, very, very long time since God resided with the
Israelites. Were the priestly duties simply a job due to the broken fellowship
that had endured for centuries?
I find it amusing that Gabriel was sent to talk with Zacharias when he had been chosen – not by accident – to go into the temple to burn incense. Can you imagine his shock? Going about his business and then BAM! “Um. Hello, mighty angel who stands in God’s presence. What brings you to the right hand of the altar of incense?” It’s just crazy to think that God would meet someone in a holy place. Or is it?
Abba was quite aware of Elizabeth and Zacharias, their desire to live righteously, their prayers for a child, and of the need to reconcile the Jews to their God. Abba is powerful and capable of meeting anyone He wants to meet, at any time. And it was time for...
I find it amusing that Gabriel was sent to talk with Zacharias when he had been chosen – not by accident – to go into the temple to burn incense. Can you imagine his shock? Going about his business and then BAM! “Um. Hello, mighty angel who stands in God’s presence. What brings you to the right hand of the altar of incense?” It’s just crazy to think that God would meet someone in a holy place. Or is it?
Abba was quite aware of Elizabeth and Zacharias, their desire to live righteously, their prayers for a child, and of the need to reconcile the Jews to their God. Abba is powerful and capable of meeting anyone He wants to meet, at any time. And it was time for...
God is with us!
How often do we go about our duties, which God set apart for us before the
creation of this world, and not carry them out with an expectation to meet God?
Do we believe that He is with us making all things work together for the good
of all who love Him and are called according to His purpose? Greater is He who
is in us, than He who is in the world. Do we believe that and live that out
daily? Do we live with a sense of anticipation for Jesus’ return, because we
are so in love with Him that we just can’t wait to meet Him face to face? Do we
give up praying big prayers as we wait?
God is with us!
What a great gift of God’s presence we have! Yet we forget
that He lives in us, by His Holy Spirit who counsels us. We forget that Abba
God is always listening to us. We forget that we have a great High Priest – the
Spotless Lamb of God – who intercedes for us.How peculiar we are. He is with us. Yet we forget. Do you think it's time for us to start remembering?
Abba God, I’m so sorry for the times when I forget that You
are with me in the set-apart duties You’ve given me to do. Thank You for seeing
me and for caring about me – right now, where I am. Help me learn to abide more
fully: to take a deep breath, to be still and dwell on “God with us.” Show me
how to celebrate Your presence in my life more each day. For You are with me.
You love me intimately, forever lavishing Your kindness on me. How great and
good You are! In Jesus’ name…
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