Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." (Luke 1:21-25)
In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andy noted that sometimes we are called to seclusion as God does His work in us. Elizabeth experienced this. Our pastor reminded us that Elizabeth, at the start of her pregnancy, did not share a public testimony of what God had done. Instead she waited until she was near the end of her second trimester, at which point her pregnancy would be visible to all who saw her.
Some Christians are spiritually "pregnant." God has begun to do astounding, miraculous things for them, but no one can see the process that God has set into motion. And our community, just like the community in ancient times, continues with the logic they've always used:
Elizabeth and Zechariah aren't able to have children.
It seems that God didn't give them an heir.
But, behind the scenes, God is speaking a different narrative:
I gave Elizabeth and Zechariah the ability to have children.
I have given them an heir.
The Luke passage is an encouragement and a warning: Don't be bound by what you see. You might be making assumptions based on Month Two... and your God may reveal a completely different view in Month Five.
Nevermind your logic, and put your commentary on hold. God is working on seemingly barren situations behind the scenes.
Scripture
references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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