| Our verse to DATE the Word on January 6 (1/6) is Luke 1:6 |
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| Luke 1:6 says. And they (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. |
| A Tremendous EXAMPLE Luke has begun to unpack the story of Jesus and starts with the introduction of the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth. Verse 5 tells us the time period and the occupation of Zacharias and the lineage of Elizabeth. Luke 1:5 says, “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.” Verse 6 now tells of their CHARACTER with verse 7 telling of their CHALLENGE. Verse 7 says, “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” That would change as God would answer their prayers and to them would be born the forerunner to the Messiah, John the Baptist. Our verse to DATE challenges us and hopefully inspires us in the area of CHARACTER. Notice first that both Zacharias and Elizabeth are described as RIGHTEOUS before God. This speaks of both internal and external. Inwardly they could only be righteous because like Abraham they had to believe God for salvation. Their own righteousness was as filthy rags but for this to be said of them they would have had to place their FAITH in God. Externally they lived doing what was RIGHT in God’s sight. Proverbs 20:7 says the righteous walk/live with integrity. Not only was this godly couple righteous before God they walked in all of God’s commandments and ordinances. In other words, they lived OBEDIENT LIVES. They OBEYED God. While involved in the work of a priest offering sacrifices, I surmise that they both understood what Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:12 saying, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” Zacharias and Elizabeth were far more than “religious people.” Their love and devotion to God brought about a heart of obedience to God. The apostle John would write later in 2 John 1:6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” Because of living righteous and obedient lives, Luke described them as BLAMELESS. Not perfect, but BLAMELESS. To be BLAMELESS is to be above reproach or questioning. Noah, who may have been an example for Zacharias and Elizabeth, was known as blameless. From Genesis 6:9 we read “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. Job was known for being blameless. Notice Job 1:1 and his character description; Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Daniel was known for being blameless and from the lion’s den he told the king that God had protected him because he was blameless. See Daniel 6:22. One who serves as a deacon in a church is to be examined to see if they are BLAMELESS. “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.” (1 Timothy 3:10) Psalms119:1 tells us that “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!” So, a person, who could be a friend or family member, a co-worker, or maybe a pastor, picks up a pen to write some words about you as Luke did about Zacharias and Elizabeth. What do they write? How do they describe your CHARACTER? As a reminder from this godly couple, your character is constantly under construction and constantly on display. Remember that daily you sow a thought and reap an act. You sow an act, and you reap a habit. You sow a habit and you reap a CHARACTER. You sow a CHARACTER, and you reap a destiny. What are you sowing – doing today to develop a godly CHARACTER? Would your character be an example to others? verse to DATE the Word on January 6 (1/6) is Luke 1:6. It says. And they (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Continue Strong living right before God, obeying God and walking blamelessly before God and man! And remember to DATE THE WORD |