Read Luke 1:5-7 TEXT: "There was a priest named Zechariah...and he had a wife...Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God...but they had no child." (Luke 1:5-7)

Christmas Eve holds a special place in my memory. I remember my family sitting together in the living room after the candlelight Christmas service, enjoying a crackling fire. The only other light comes from the Christmas tree and dozens of candles. We spent hours passing around funny Christmas memories, while steam rose from our coffee and hot chocolate.

Luke's account of the first Christmas begins with an introduction to Mary's relative Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah the priest. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both good, upright people. Not that they were good enough to earn heaven-none of us can do that. They were good in God's eyes because they believed His promise to save them through the coming Christ. They had both lived to a good old age but were childless. In that age it was considered a disgrace when a couple was without child. For many long years the couple had prayed and wondered why God had kept them from having a child. By this late age, they had given up hope completely.

Is there something missing in your life? Something you have prayed long and hard for but nothing changes? Does that make you question God or yourself? Stick around and see that God always has a good reason, when He holds something back from us.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes life doesn't seem to have any rhyme or reason. I want something desperately but for whatever reason You withhold it from me. Give me patience and faith to trust that You are good, loving and gracious, so I may wait patiently for Your time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 33-34    1 Peter 5

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