Read Luke 1:5-7
Further Reading: Hebrews 12:4-13
Luke 1:6 pays a high tribute to the character of Zechariah and Elizabeth! In this context, their “righteousness” is not that of the Christian, who by faith in Christ is judicially declared righteous before God, free of condemnation. Theirs was of the practical kind, a true love and faithful obedience to the Law of God—very rare in those days when devotion to God was in name and form only.
Let us see in them an example worthy of our imitation. Like them, let us all strive to love and serve God faithfully, fully living up to the level of the Biblical knowledge that we have, even as they did.
But despite their true heart-felt devotion, God gave them a heavy trial (Luke 1:7). The full force of the words but they had no child may be hard for us to understand and even less for us to sympathize with their condition since many are talking today about overpopulation. But to an ancient Jew these words would convey the idea of a very painful affliction. To be childless was one of the bitterest of sorrows in that culture (1 Sam 1:10).
The point of this passage is clear: the grace of God exempts none of His children from trials and pain, maybe even disappointment. God never promises anyone a charmed life. Instead, let us believe God’s Word that His hand of perfect wisdom measures out both our plea-sures and our pains, and that when He corrects or disciplines us, it is to make us share his holiness (Heb 12:10). If afflictions drive us nearer to Christ, to reading the Bible and to prayer, they are blessings. We may not think so now. But we shall think so on resurrection morning when we wake up in God’s perfect Kingdom.
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
