“When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.” Luke 1:5-7, NLT
What does modern day righteousness look like if I am of the priestly order of Jesus? Are we confused because we have learned that O.T. righteousness meant that one was righteous by upholding the laws/commandments of God and that N.T. righteousness is not a result of what we can do but rather a result of what Jesus has done? Could this confusion cause me to relapse into legalism or to the other extreme, abuse my freedom? That Luke mentions Zechariah and Elizabeth were careful to obey all of Lord’s commandments and regulations perhaps gives us a clue. They didn’t want anything to hinder their relationship with God. Though Elizabeth was barren from having no children at this time, her love for God was pregnant with the evidence of wanting to please Him. What do my relationships, my actions, my language, my calendar, my emails, my internet activity, and my bank account reveal about me? Am I barren of righteousness, of love, or the desire to please God . . . or, am I pregnant with Christ’s love and the gift of righteousness, living out of that love to please God. What is my life barren of and/or what am I pregnant with?
Do I live humbly by the ordinance of the Majesty of Heaven – is my heart overwhelmed by His Majesty? Do I live as if His name is above all others? Listen to this song by Chris Tomlin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PIVaadNe2w
Lord, may my desire to please you be born out of love, but help me to always be “care”ful in my relationships and guarded in my actions knowing that I can hinder this relationship with you or cause others to stumble in their own barrenness. Being of the priestly order of Jesus, may I always remember that this gift comes with great responsibility and how I steward this responsibility can draw others to His Majesty or away from His Majesty. In Jesus name, Amen.
