Luke wrote about an “angel” appearing to Zacharias as he was burning incense in the temple. The “angel” told him his wife Elisabeth would have a son, and they were to name him “John”. After hearing this, Zacharias asked, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings. And, behold, you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you believed not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-three of his book Luke shares how, “as soon as the days of” Zacharias' “ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house”, where we read:
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished,
he departed to his own house.
The verse reads, “And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, ...” Luke began with the words, “And it came to pass, that” or “and it happened, occurred and came into being that”, “as soon as the days of his ministration” which means “even when the time of Zacharias' service within the temple” “were accomplished” or “was completed, finished and fulfilled” Zacharias did the following act. Luke shared how Zacharias “fulfilled” his service within the temple, and as soon as it was finished, he proceeded to do the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... he departed to his own house.” Luke continued with the words, “he departed” which means “Zacharias left and went away” “to his own house” or “to Zacharias' personal dwelling place and habitation”. Luke shared how Zacharias went home after he completed his service at the temple.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover the practical side to Zacharias' life. Though he went through the spiritual experience of meeting and being instructed by the “angel Gabriel”, he was to continue his regular functions in life. God loves to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and a “spiritual” experience should be paired with everyday life. God performed a “spiritual” work that provides everlasting life to every person who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus, and this relationship is to be manifested in their everyday life as they minister within their homes.
Next time Luke shares, “after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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