Daily Devotional for Wednesday, December 10

Zacharias Was Seen Writing

“And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all,” Luke 1:57-63.

There is something pastors know that their congregations often forget: pastors are human. It is tempting to see the suit and tie, respected position, education, and forget there is a human being underneath who hopes, fears, and bleeds just like everyone else. The heart of a good pastor yearns to live up to God’s calling and the expectations of His people, but he often finds himself tripping over his humanity.

            Yet, despite their frailty, God has chosen to work through humans. The account we see in today’s reading is of a man of God who was bearing up under difficult and unusual circumstances. Zechariah had received miraculous news from God’s messenger Gabriel that shook his family with fear and joy simultaneously. Elizabeth his wife, who had borne the burden of barrenness for so long, was now at long last to bring a child into their home. Not only was the child coming, but he was to be used of God in great and mighty ways (verses 13-16). While this was an answer to Zechariah’s prayers (verse 13), it was still challenging to his faith to comprehend the miraculous power of God. Zechariah’s faith was struggling with the question, “How can this be?”

            The people could see that Zechariah had been affected by some unusual event. He was unable to speak, communicating only through written messages. God had spoken and Zechariah had stumbled at the word of God. Perhaps the people viewed this in various ways, they “marveled” according to verse 63. Did some misunderstand or misjudge what they saw? People often fail to understand what the man of God is enduring to be used in the service of God.  

CONSIDER THIS

Has your pastor been called upon to minister under extraordinary circumstances? If so, have you prayed for him? He needs your prayers.                                                                                                                                        

John Nations