Saturday, September 16, 2023

Beyond the Natural

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

BEYOND THE NATURAL

Luke 1:21-25

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 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. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "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."

NIV

Is this sort of a repeat of Abraham and Sarah, two people in the later years of life having a baby? Was Elizabeth over the age of being able to have a child naturally as Sarah was and once again God demonstrates his power over the natural. God is certainly showing his ability to overshadow us, causing Zechariah to now be able to speak because of unbelief. If we can learn anything from this narrative is that God can do what we would think is beyond our natural realm. At times, we might think that our lives are dependent on our power, or abilities, so we put limits on the power of God acting on our behalf, doing things in our lives that are beyond human power and abilities. It is also interesting that although Elizabeth was well along in years and becoming pregnant, she remained in seclusion for five months. We would think because God did such a miracle in her life, she would want to tell everyone she knew. However, on the other hand, would anyone believe she became with child by the power of God, although John was still conceived through the natural human course. Elizebeth was barren but that did not mean she was a virgin, as Mary her cousin was. However, the main truth we should be careful to remember is that God can do whatever he desires in our lives to accomplish his purpose. When we call Jesus our Lord and Savior, it means that we have declared God to be our Lord, our Master, our Sovereign, who is in charge of us. That includes doing supernatural things in and through us. But we need to release his power within us, looking past the natural order that we are limited to in our flesh. This would include every aspect of our lives, however, the one area in which we are the weakest would show how God is the strongest when he works through the power of the Spirit within us. Zechariah thought it would be beyond the natural realm for him and his wife to have a child, but it was not anywhere near beyond the power of God. This is how we need to face life, always expecting the power of God to work in and through us beyond our natural abilities, we will have life and life abundantly, living in and for the kingdom of God.

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