HOPE RETURNS TO A SEPARATED PERSON

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”  (Luke 1:5-9)

Zacharias was a priest set apart for service in the temple.  He and his wife Elizabeth were faithful people who let their light shine during those dark days.  They clung to hope when it seemed hope was lost.  In them, we can see what it means to be a separated person—separated from sin and unto God.

We are separated to God IN A HOLY WALK.  Especially note verse six, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”  This godly couple wasn’t perfect, but they were pure.  God occupied the throne of their lives and directed their steps.  Their walk in public was without scandal and their walk in private was without shame.  All was done under the supervision of God who put His stamp of approval on their conduct.  You don’t have to be a gifted person for God to use, but you have to be a godly person. 

The world’s noise drowns out God’s voice.   If we try to keep one eye on the world, and the other eye on the Lord, all we will do is become disoriented and fall down.  You can’t be stuck in the mud of carnal living and walk with the Lord.  His is the highway of holiness.  “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8)

But we are also separated to God IN A HUMBLE WORK.  Zacharias was given the responsibility to burn incense in the temple.  This seems like such a small assignment to us, but did you know that Zacharias saw it as a significant work?  Do you know when God is likely to give you a larger work?  When you are faithful with the little one!  Gideon was threshing wheat when God called him to lead an army; David was tending sheep when God anointed him to be king; Elisha was tilling the soil when God designated him as Elijah’s successor; Peter was mending nets when Jesus summoned him to fish for men. 

Are you positioned to hear from God?  Right now are you humbly applying yourself in obedience to what you know to do at the moment?  If you are not, then don’t expect God to direct you to wider responsibility.