City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” ²¹ And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²² And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³ And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵ “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Luke 1:18-25 ESV

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man (generic term for mankind) in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26-28 ESV

Reflection

As I listened to the sermon this past Sunday the story of Elizabeth stuck out in my mind.  Her husband comes home from a very odd day at work, and he cannot talk.  Perhaps a non-talking husband is not so odd after working a long day, but then she finds herself expecting a baby, at her age.  Now this was an expectation that had died in her many years ago.  She must have been well acquainted with what is taught in Genesis Chapter 1, God’s directive for His people to be fruitful and multiple.  Not being able to do this must have visited such a heavy burden on her. The reproach of her society would have labeled her a “non-producer.”  She would see herself as the end of the line, with no one to carry on the family name.

But now, all those years of reproach are washed away in one night. Even at their age, the rapidness of Elizabeth getting pregnant speaks to the devotion that they had for each other. This promise is fulfilled so quickly because they were faithful to each other already.

Now, with the blessing being realized, Elizabeth hides away for 5 months.  Perhaps this is because of her modesty, she couldn’t bare to be seen in this shape as an older woman. I like to think, however, that she wanted this time to herself; five months to hide away from the world and simply worship her Lord.  It would have been much better than a week at the spa or on an ocean cruise. Five months to say thank you to the Lord and watch the reproach of society fall away.  How beautiful a thing that must have been.

Sweet Elizabeth, take your time and have your day.  It is a gift from God.  Cherish it.

Application

Can you accept such a gift? Would you know it if God were offering such a thing to you?  God is the Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and then some.  So do not think that it is impossible for God to give you such wonderful things.  Yes, we need our bills paid, our meals cooked, our houses cleaned, and our kids taught.  Can we look to the sparrow, who God takes care of?  Can we look to the lilies of the field who God dresses with splendor?  Yes, we can, but it is a hard thing for us to do.  We are distracted by the crashing waves. They impinge on our awe and obscure our view of God’s glory.

Behold, your day of visitation is at hand.  The child lays in the manger this season, and the streets are filled with the music of His glory.  Listen to it.  Attend the coming of Jesus in your life.  Hold his promises in your heart, and you will see it.  The angels are singing of His coming.  May your heart be opened to hear it.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that You send Your Holy Spirit to all who believe in You that they may be strengthened and encouraged. I pray that You show them the love and the life You have for them. May they be caught up in the awe of Your glory and in the solitude of Your praise. Draw them away from the noise and into the calmness of Your peace. May the curses in their lives be broken and new life in Jesus be brought forth. Teach us to love You in all things.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.