Thursday 6 December 2012

Luke 1:1-25



 "But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard."
{Luke 1:13} (NIV1984)

What was Zechariah’s prayer? It seems, because of the verse that follows, that Zechariah had been praying for his wife to have a child. However there is no record of his words, or frequency of his prayer. His lack of belief suggests that any prayer he might have prayed for his wife would fall short of “an effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man”, although Luke clearly states that Zechariah was a righteous man. 

We should not be surprised that the Lord Almighty heard the prayer of a righteous man who faithfully served God, although he had trouble believing an angel. The Lord had promised to hear the prayers offered in His temple, and He keeps His promises. We should not be surprised at God answering our prayers, as if the answer depended on our ability to work up “perfect faith”. The Lord answers prayer. That is His promise and it is what He does for His people. 

Now, Zechariah probably wished that the answer had come earlier in his life! However, here once again we see that God’s timing is perfect. Friend, I wonder what are you praying for, in your imperfect way? May we insert our own name in this sentence that was spoken by the angel who stands in the presence of the Lord Almighty. “Do not be afraid, _______; your prayer has been heard.”

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