Advent Devotion: December 2, 2024
The Place of Questions
~Emma Rooney
Scripture – Luke 1:5-7 (CEB) During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old.
Reflection
At some point in your life, you may have sat and questioned God. Even when we follow God’s words and ideals, living into what it means to be a good Christian, we can still end up feeling empty handed when our questions go unanswered.
Elizabeth was the descendant of a high priest, and Zechariah was a priest, both devout to the Lord: following all of the commandments, unable to bear children, wondering why can’t we have children?
What we as humans struggle to remember is that we will not always get a clear answer from God, but we can discern some insights through God’s movement in our lives. We are able to remember the past and learn from it, so that we do not repeat the things that have failed us. We can give our all to the things that fill our cups while doing our best to support one another. As we do so, our efforts move us forward into the future, where the world that God has planned is coming into being, where life is rich in diversity, no one experiences grievances, and we are surrounded by all things good. Until that happens, it is in our nature to be curious and continue to wonder “why?”
You may not have an answer in the present. You may look back on the past to try and make sense of things, or look to the future and wonder what will take place. Regardless, remind yourself that God is with you, just as he was with Elizabeth and Zechariah.
The Place of Questions
~Emma Rooney
Scripture – Luke 1:5-7 (CEB) During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old.
Reflection
At some point in your life, you may have sat and questioned God. Even when we follow God’s words and ideals, living into what it means to be a good Christian, we can still end up feeling empty handed when our questions go unanswered.
Elizabeth was the descendant of a high priest, and Zechariah was a priest, both devout to the Lord: following all of the commandments, unable to bear children, wondering why can’t we have children?
What we as humans struggle to remember is that we will not always get a clear answer from God, but we can discern some insights through God’s movement in our lives. We are able to remember the past and learn from it, so that we do not repeat the things that have failed us. We can give our all to the things that fill our cups while doing our best to support one another. As we do so, our efforts move us forward into the future, where the world that God has planned is coming into being, where life is rich in diversity, no one experiences grievances, and we are surrounded by all things good. Until that happens, it is in our nature to be curious and continue to wonder “why?”
You may not have an answer in the present. You may look back on the past to try and make sense of things, or look to the future and wonder what will take place. Regardless, remind yourself that God is with you, just as he was with Elizabeth and Zechariah.
