by Emily Wooten
Zacharias and Elisabeth were faithful in the ministry. Scripture tells us they walked blamelessly. They were doing what they had done for years, as was expected of people who loved and obeyed God. It was an ordinary day in Zacharias’ life, but things were about to change.
As he attended to his duties, an angel appeared to Zacharias. Scripture says that Zacharias was troubled. It was unsettling to him.
Luke 1:13-15 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Zacharias and Elisabeth were not strangers to the things of God, but this news was beyond anything they had experienced. Standard operating procedure had not been working in Elisabeth’s body. God chose to do a new thing.
Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well stricken in years.
He was looking at their circumstance and judging their reality by the familiar.
John was conceived and born with purpose. His ministry was unique and brief but powerful.
Luke 1:26-28 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
God was doing something miraculous for these two families that would affect the world. If God was planning to do something miraculous in our lives, could we overlook the fears to receive all he has for us? There was only one John the Baptist. But there is only one you. The body of Christ needs to continue to be expecting God to do something miraculous.