Morning by Morning, December 10 - Generation of Zechariah Preparing the Way for the Generation of Elijah Preparing the Way for the Lord
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul to rise and follow You. Let me hear what Your Spirit is saying to me as I begin my day in the communion of prayer. ...
"Once when he was serving as priest before God ... (Zechariah) was chosen ... to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.... Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord.... When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord'" (Luke 1:13-17).
The generation of Zechariah prepares the way for the generation of Elijah; and the generation of Elijah prepares the way for the Lord. Zechariah was a priest, chosen and faithful to serve God and the people of God. He had supernatural encounters in the presence of God, yet also found himself struggling with fear at the same time (v. 12). He also struggled with faith to fully believe the promises of God, even in the midst of these powerful encounters (v. 18). But in the end, by the power of the grace of God, he learned both obedience and faith through all he suffered and endured to fully embrace his strategic destiny in the unfolding of the plans of God (v. 63).
As the generation of Zechariah overcomes fear and doubt and unbelief to be faithful and true in their calling and destiny to raise up the next generation of sons and daughters of the faith, their generation will rejoice (v. 58). They will look with eyes of wonder and faith upon this generation of Elijah, expectantly asking, "What then will this (generation) become?' For, indeed, the hand of the Lord is with (them)" (v. 66).
This generation of Elijah is "filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 15). And "with the spirit and power of Elijah," this generation of Elijah will "turn many people ... to the Lord their God ... (and) turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (v. 15-17).
By the Holy Spirit of God within us, we are both the generation of Zechariah and the generation of Elijah. By the power of Your grace, we overcome everything with us that would hold us back from being all You've created us to be and we look beyond ourselves to those You've entrusted to us to help raise up into their calling and destiny as well. By the same power of Your grace, we also go in Your spirit and Your power to turn many hearts to You to prepare the way of the Lord -- here in our hearts and here in the earth. We are the priests who serve You and the prophets who proclaim You; we are the children of God, sons and daughters of the King, who honor You and love You (1 Peter 2:9). And we prepare the way for You.
Come, Lord Jesus. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let everyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift" (Revelation 22:17). As the generations of Zechariah and Elijah, we prepare Your way and long for Your coming. In obedience and faith, we believe Your promise: "The One who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon" (Revelation 22:20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
