The elderly pastor noticed a group of long-time members of his church talking before a Sunday morning service. Something seemed wrong. Nudged by the others, one of them approached the pastor. “Pastor,” he said, “we were just discussing the fact that something must be wrong with your ministry style or ability. Only one person has come to Christ in the whole last year, and he’s just a boy!”
The old minister listened. His eyes moistened as he considered what was being said. “Yes,” he replied, “I feel it too.” On that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.
After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him. The pastor’s face brightened as he saw the young man standing in front of him. “Hello Robert,” the pastor said. “What can I do for you?” The boy replied, “Do you think if I could ever become a preacher, or perhaps a missionary?” Again the old minister’s eyes moistened, but this time for a much better reason.
Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had helped many people come to Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most hardened tribes. His name was Robert Moffat. It was the same Robert who years before had spoken to the old pastor that Sunday morning.
F. B. Meyer once said,
“Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.”
John the Baptist’ father was a man named Zacharias. An angel appeared to him and told him of God’s plans to give him and his wife a son and how great he would become. And this came to pass. John the Baptist was born and became the one God chose to announce the coming of Jesus as Messiah. Jesus himself said that no person ever been born was greater than John the Baptist.
Yet you would’ve never predicted John’s greatness by looking at parents. They were not impressive people. They were not successful people. They were old and unable to have children. But one thing can be said about them: they were faithful. Luke records,
“Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk, careful to obey all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in letter.” (Luke 1:6, TLB)
Zacharias and Elizabeth are a picture of a people who might not believe what they are doing is even noticed, let alone making any difference. But they’re also a picture of people in whom the seed of God’s next step lies waiting. People who will see the reward for serving faithfully.
So the next time you run into someone who doubts you, your style, or ability; or the next time you feel like what you are doing is futile, unnoticed, and ineffective, remember these two names: Zacharias and Elizabeth.
The name Elizabeth means, “God is a God of His oath, to complete it.” In other words,
God will keep His Word to you!
“There has not failed one word of all His good promises.” (I Kgs 8:56b)
“For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him amen.” (II Cor. 1:20)
And don’t forget the name Zacharias, which means, “The Lord remembered.” In other words,
God has not forgotten about you!
“God is not unjust to forget your labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Heb. 6:10)
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