By Jannie Linney
The Lord had set forth in order a declaration of things believed among the people of God. They were delivered to the people from those who were eye witnesses and ministers of the word. It came from those who had a good understanding from the beginning. That they might know and be certain of the things in which they had been instructed. [Read Luke 1:1-4].
Leading into the preparation of making a way for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “There was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth” [Luke 1:5]. Not just any priest, but he was a certain priest. There was a plan for his life beyond his expectation. There is a plan, a big plan, a God plan for you that goes far beyond anything you have ever thought.
“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” [1Cor. 2:9]. He said, for those who love Him. Now if we don’t love Him, we are on our own! In a little different way, this was prophesied in the Old Testament.
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He has prepared for him that waiteth for Him” [Is. 64:4]. God had a plan for Zachariah and Elisabeth far beyond their expectations. They had prayed for a child, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years” [V.6-7]. Even though they had not had that prayer answered, they continued in their walk with the Lord. They were both blameless. Satan hates the unity of marriage. Your mate is not your enemy, Satan is your enemy.
Elisabeth was barren, why had that prayer not been answered? They were both righteous before the lord, serving in the kingdom. Maybe, just maybe, God had been saving her womb for the person He would anoint in the womb to be the special one that would prepare the way for His son, The Messiah, our Lord and Savior. Could He be saving you for some special work?
“And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course. According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord” [V8-9]. Notice Zachariah kept right on being about the Fathers business. He could have gotten disillusioned, gave up and called in sick, sat down and watched T.V. Well, whatever they did back then. No, it was his lot, his calling, to burn incense at the time of prayer. He was fulfilling his responsibility. What is your lot?
As he was being about His Father’s business, there appeared to him as angel of the lord. When Zachariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, Fear not, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear a son, and you shall call his name John. Many shall be turned to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just [read v’s 10-17]. What if old Zac had decided not to fulfill his lot, that day, the order of his course that period? You see, God will answer prayer in His timing, but it will be when we are where we are supposed to be, doing what is our Lot. “What is your Lot”?
