It's easy to get caught up in the "negative" work of God in Zechariah's life. Zechariah asks a question and God strikes him dumb for nine months. Don't get me wrong, I understand that plenty of husbands and wives would welcome nine months of silence from their spouse, but in this case it was a punishment.
When Zechariah was faithful, though, God not only reversed the punishment. God added a blessing. Zechariah was now filled with the Holy Spirit, something that wasn't available to everyone yet, and was able to enjoy being a prophet of God.
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us-- to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Luke 1:68-75 NIV)
Not only did Zechariah receive the blessing of God's Spirit and prophecy. He would have the ongoing blessing of seeing God at work in his son, John. He would watch John grow up, be filled with the Holy Spirit as well, and become an integral part of God's salvation plan.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:75-79 NIV)
Don't ever think that your past sin will stop God from welcoming you home today. Don't believe for a second that your disobedience excludes you from God's work in the future. God is in the reconciliation business. God empowers, equips, and encourages people all the time - people who have made mistakes in the past. God even works with people who make mistakes along the way. That's just the way God rolls.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel. (Luke 1:80 NIV)
How about you? Are you willing to let go of your past mistakes and start being faithful to God again? Are you ready to be empowered, equipped, and encouraged by God? Are you ready to enjoy not only walking together with God but empowering one more?
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