Date: Sunday, 7th January, 2024
Text: Luke 1:1-17
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
The problem of barrenness has plagued many families for ages and sometimes, even God’s people are not exempted. But with the right positioning barrenness disappears in the lives of the His people.
The biblical story of a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth is very instructive. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
It seemed God had forgotten him and his family. I am very sure even his extended family would have given up on them because the wife by then had reached the stage of menopause and biologically speaking was unable to conceive anymore.
However, despite their ‘impossible’ situation they never compromised their faith but remained well positioned in holiness, serving the Lord.
Once when Zechariah was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” Luke 1: 8, 11-15a
Barrenness was terminated because Zechariah’s family did not give up their righteous positioning. They served God blamelessly; He remembered them and gave them John, the Baptist. Concerning John, Jesus Christ said, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” Matthew 11:11.
This year 2024, the Lord will remember you as you position yourself rightly in obedience and active service of God in Jesus name.
Prayer Nugget: Father, please, remember me this year, as I position myself rightly in Jesus name.