It was a career highlight to be sure, thought Zechariah, but moreover, it was the closest he would ever get to a burning bush moment.

How enthralling! 

How amazing!  

How monumental as a career milestone! 

He was getting carried away in a flurry of excitement, but then suddenly, a cold feeling of total unworthiness weighed heavily on his shoulders and wrapped about him like a shroud.

He began to understand the significance of such a feeling.  

This atmosphere of seriousness made the air heavy to breathe.  He almost gasped for each breath when the reality hit him.  It was not meant for personal satisfaction.

Suddenly, it lifted light and warm, sweeping across his face like a joyful morning song.  What was going on?  

He was completely and unexpectedly overcome by the spiritual experience, the holiness of it all.  He could admit it: he had holy fear. 

He could hear his pulse in his ears and his hands were oddly sweating with a feeling of nervousness.  A profound sense of awe covered him from every angle. People were praying outside, and he was here inside, close to Adonai, doing what some priests would never get the opportunity to do.  He was taking in every moment—as if making a record of it—for this event’s memory would need to last him the rest of his life.  He’d never get the opportunity again. 

He was deep in thought, unable to lift his eyes to such a holy task, when he felt like there was someone there.  His heart pounded like a man being chased.  “Who was there?  Who are you?”  Not a sound. 

He must be imagining things, he thought, but his heart’s rapid beating told him otherwise.  He looked to the altar of incense to resume his work, but he was self-aware, consumed with his surroundings and that odd feeling of being watched.  He looked again, and at the right-hand side of the altar, there was an angel of the Lord.  His heart nearly stopped at this sight when the angel commanded,

Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” (Luke 1:13)

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. Zechariah’s experience was supernatural and totally unique.  That is something none of us will ever experience.  But there are ways in which closeness to God can elicit that same holy fear and result in profoundly spiritual outcomes.  Are there any experiences you have had that could only be called “spiritually powerful”? 
2. When God shows Himself powerful in your life, what feelings do you have? 
3. Most of us go through our days picturing ourselves as basically good on that scale from Hitler (worst of the evil side) to Mother Teresa (superior on the goodness side).  However, if the scale goes from sinful human (Hitler) to divine perfection (Jesus), we’re all on the Hitler side—totally unworthy compared to Christ. How is grace amplified by a true sense of our own unworthiness? (Read Romans 5:20-6:10 for insight.) 

Self-Reflection topic: Holy fear

Prayer:  Father God, we ask that You remind us of Your perfection every day so that we always might view ourselves rightly.  Lord Jesus, give us joy in acts of righteousness and give us a sense of holy fear of judgment for our times of failure, not as retribution, but as restoration of what needs to be a right relationship with You.  Help us Lord, to cherish that relationship.  Holy Spirit, please strengthen our resolve in prayer, in faith, and in perseverance so that we might bring glory to God.  Encourage us to see ourselves as unworthy people gratefully redeemed by grace, not just simply unworthy as condemned by our adversary.  Help us to see ourselves through the lens of love through which You see us.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

People were praying outside as Zechariah entered the vestibule to perform the same rites handed down through generations of priests since Aaron in the Tabernacle days.  The legacy and traditions had been faithfully passed through the years: the burning of incense, twice daily, maintaining the lamps so incense would be a perpetual offering.  A holy custom and perpetual, too.

In Zechariah’s’ mind he recalled the words he knew so well. 

Exodus 30:7 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.” 

Once in the morning with morning prayers, once again at twilight and to maintain the lamps as commanded by Moses.  Moreover, the law was clear, even so far as what to burn as incense.

Exodus 30:34 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices–gum resin, onycha and galbanum–and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD.” 

He cherished the words of the Law of Moses and treasured up in his heart that what he was doing now was nothing other than a holy custom from ages past, offering holy incense, a most holy moment in the presence of Adonai, and certainly a day to remember forever. 

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. Why do you think people were praying outside as Zechariah went inside?  
2. How is a perpetual offering symbolic of our relationship to God? 
3. In Revelation 5:8, we read that incense is symbolic of “the prayers of the saints.”  In what way are the prayers of those outside connected to the burning of incense as a perpetual offering? 
4. Are there any changes you can make to your prayer life to make it more perpetual? 
5. What other things can be a perpetual offering of worship?  For insight, read Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Self-Reflection topic: Perpetual Offering

Prayer:  Father God, You are worthy of our continual worship.  Help us to find ways to worship You even as we go about our daily lives, songs here, prayers there, encouragement of our fellow man wherever we can.  Help us to bring glory to You by our actions, by our words, and by our choices.  Help us to lift one another up in prayer, knowing that You already know the desires of our hearts and the needs of our friends better than we do.  Hear our prayers for our nation, for our towns, for our families, for our churches, and for ourselves.  As Your Word reminds us in Hebrews 10:25 “Let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  As we watch and wait for Your return, let our worship be continual and let our custom be to seek holiness and give You praise.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Zechariah’s heart was pounding, and he caught his breath. He had been chosen by lot to offer incense in the Temple itself! 

This was a once-in-a-lifetime event and indeed a high honor to be selected for this exceptional duty. 

Previously he had known only how it felt not-to-be chosen. 

What had he known?  An inevitable letdown at having the lot fall on someone else, and wishing he could have been the one, but always checking himself because a lot was really just God’s choice revealed.  He knew all too well the feelings of disappointment, but now finally, he knew how it felt to be chosen by God to perform this offering of incense. 

Chosen! 

He tried to conceal his heart’s joy within the vestments of priestly attire and behavior, for he knew all too well what it felt like for the others looking at him … still waiting their turn which may never come.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. Zechariah had many years of watching other men be selected.  It had nothing to do with worth or merit.  It was a simple choice by lot.  Yet this was the method used and considered to be how God chose people.  How do you think he felt all those years of showing up—dutifully—only to have others selected instead? 
2. Have you ever been waiting while someone else was selected—maybe for a promotion, a perk, a basketball team, or a leading role.  Maybe always a bridesmaid never a bride? 
3. How does it make you feel?

Self-Reflection topic: Being chosen, or not

Prayer:  Your choices, Lord, are often hard for us to understand.  Why are some rich, some poor, some healthy, and some afflicted?  When we question, Father remind us of what Jesus said about the blind man: “This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3).  May we accept times of being passed over or not being chosen with the same willingness of heart to do Your will as if we had been selected … by always keeping Your will paramount.  Comfort us please, Holy Spirit, during our times of sadness and rejection.  Lift us to be godly so we would not lord over others when we have experienced blessing or favor.  Help us to reach out to those who are sad, being as generous in giving as we are grateful in being grace-recipients.  May we see Your hand in both. Help us to see Your favor in the way You intend it—that Your work would be displayed in all our lives.  Grant us eyes to see and ears to hear.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

The quarters where the priests would stay were up the stairs at the Court of the Priests. 

Before reaching that, however, there was a band of space, the Court of the Israelites, where ritually pure Jewish men were allowed to worship separately from women and with a view of the slaughter tables, the square altar of sacrifice, and laver for washing the sacrifices. The Temple building itself was set in splendor at the end of the Court of the Priests with its polished white stone and gold plating. 

Twelve steps led up to the vestibule, but only the priests were allowed there.  Zechariah was one of those permitted.  He reviewed the scenery, understanding what the new week would bring with the various priestly duties. 

He smiled with full gratitude since he’d made the journey successfully once again.  Yes, it was familiar enough to be well-rehearsed, almost like a homecoming, but one thing remained uncertain: the assigning of duties by lot.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. How do you feel when you’ve reached a destination or accomplished a goal? 
2. When you have been traveling for work, how does reaching the business destination differ from journeys for vacation or a return back to your home? 
3. How does your view of uncertainty change, depending upon the purpose of your journey: work or vacation?

Self-Reflection topic: Reaching destinations, accomplishing goals

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help us to remember that Your time on earth was both a journey and culminated in accomplishing the most impactful goal known to man.  Ministry happened in both places: along Your journey and in accomplishing Your goal.  Help us never to minimize the impact of a journey or the importance of keeping our eyes set upon the goal, remembering that both are important.  As Your Word reminds us, Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Help us to establish good and wise goals and to have joy in reaching the final destination.  May we follow Your example and that of your servant Paul recorded in Philippians 3:10-14 when he wrote, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  May we resonate with that goal and by Your Holy Spirit, be strengthened to completion.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Zechariah was a full-blooded Jew.  That sign prohibiting Gentiles didn’t apply to him, so he arrived at last to the Court of Women, that location where Jewish men and women could gather and place their offerings in the trumpet-shaped offering boxes. 

He quickly glanced around to see if anyone was putting money in there and if so, how much. 

But he caught himself doing that and glanced nervously again to see if anyone noticed he was observing what they were doing. 

“Priests are supposed to be above that,” he thought in repentance. 

“Did other priests do this type of thing when their sights were supposed to be on the task of leading worship as their birthright, or was it just him?” 

After all, the Temple tax and the offerings are what supported all this enterprise.  And it was a well-organized system of worship. 

It required money to maintain the structures, the areas for washing and burning of animal sacrifices, and even for the incense itself.  Granted, he didn’t earn his living from this, except as the privilege during his service window, but the Temple treasury was always interesting to him anyway.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. What about being a pastor or a priest makes money a dangerous topic? 
2. How do people in our congregations feel about pastors talking about money in church? 
3. In the Gospel of Mark 12:38-44 Jesus watched people putting money into the Temple Treasury, both rich with their large amounts and a poor widow with two copper coins.  What do you think of Jesus’ doing that?   
4. Why is money such an uncomfortable topic?

Self-Reflection topic: Money and church

Prayer:  Father, You alone are God from Whom all blessings flow.  Everything on earth belonged first to You.  Scripture reminds us that “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).  Forgive us for viewing ownership as being ours instead of viewing ourselves as stewards of what You first gave us.  Forgive us for times in which we are serving Money and for those times in which we are paying more attention to our financial health than our spiritual health.  Forgive us for storing treasures on earth instead of in heaven.  Help us to see that You are our treasure in heaven and quicken our hearts to choose better than an unhealthy interest in money. Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Now Zechariah acknowledged (with a sense of satisfaction) the sign on the stone wall proclaiming disaster to any Gentile who tried to go past this point in their worship. 

They had to stay in the outer court where goods for worship were bought and sold, where money was changed for the currency needed inside.  

He looked back across the Court of the Gentiles and perceived how Jews and Gentiles alike availed themselves of the ease of buying what they needed when they arrived.

How convenient! 

They could travel as light as money would allow.

*

Anyway, much easier than lugging some animal the full journey and risking its being unsuitable once you got there.  For comparatively little inconvenience and slightly greater expense (given the greed of the vendors and money changers), they could worship, having bought exactly what they needed right there, yeah, where the Gentiles worshiped. 

After all, they were Gentiles and their worship…well, did it really matter to Adonai anyway?  They weren’t among the Chosen People. 

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. Barriers to entry existed in worship then and now.  Take a moment and ask yourself if your church has barriers to worship? 
2. Barriers in Zechariah’s day included whether you were a Jew or a Gentile, a man or a woman, and whether you were clean or unclean.  In your church are there ways people who “belong” are clear and those who are new are unintentionally made to feel like outcasts or outsiders? 
3. There were social barriers, but there were also practical barriers.  People needed to either bring an animal with them for the sacrifice or to buy one.  Money was a barrier and distance traveled, too.  Is it any wonder that people would resent the money changers who charged a fee? 
4. Are there any practical barriers of convenience, preference, and enjoyment that diminish the holiness of the worship experience?  How do entertainment and concessions contribute to a fun, celebration, entertainment atmosphere instead of an experience of holiness in true worship? 

Self-Reflection topic: Barriers

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, that You destroyed the dividing wall between us and Yourself and between us and each other.  As Your Word says about Jesus, Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”  Thank You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Finally arriving at his destination, there was the ritual bathhouse for immersion, since one could not enter the precincts without it.  It served as a reminder to all visitors that the Temple was a special place of religious significance. 

Zechariah then climbed the fifteen uneven steps, the southern staircase that led to the Temple complex.  All the while, he reflected upon how the unevenness of the stones intentionally added to the slow pace.  It was required for a sure footing but it also provided an aura of solemnity owed to such a journey. 

This wasn’t just a casual trip, like visiting your neighbor’s home or a trip to the marketplace. 

This was far greater. 

Whenever he began to enter the Temple Court areas, his heart raced just a little at the thought:  Where he was headed was nothing other than closer to Adonai, the Almighty Himself. 

His goal was this precious nearness, and he said a quick prayer of thanksgiving that he came from a line of priests.  Only they were afforded the privilege of representing the people before the Almighty.  It was lineage alone with training added to it.  An inheritance to be among the priests and not a work of his own doing.  He took this vocation seriously and devoted himself to performing it in a way to honor the Name. 

He entered through the double gate into the Court of the Gentiles.  “Ugh, Gentiles,” he reminded himself.  “Just don’t touch anything there.  It’s one thing to represent the Chosen People, another thing entirely to become polluted by ministering to these non-Jews.”  He was grateful for the ceremonial cleansing of his hands and feet.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. What types of things in Zechariah’s journey contributed to his honoring God as holy? 
2. How does honoring God as holy (and presenting ourselves as “set apart” for God’s service) bless God? 
3. The flip-side is how we might view others—the ones from whose midst we’ve been set apart.  How do we balance holiness towards God without sacrificing brotherly love? 
4. In Zechariah’s day, Gentiles were viewed as substandard because they were unclean.  How might Zechariah’s “privilege” of being born into the priesthood and being born into the Chosen People harden his heart toward the Gentiles? 
5. What things can you do to honor God with your holiness while preserving love for the unlovely?

Self-Reflection topic: Right View of Privilege

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, may we never forget that You died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) as the demonstration of God’s perfect holiness and God’s perfect love.  Teach us to enjoy the privilege of being called and true blessing of being saved … and to use that privilege to share the Good News of Your birth, Your death on the Cross, and Your Resurrection with others so they too may enjoy the privilege of the gift of Your grace.  Help us not to despise our privilege in order to fit in amongst those from whom—at the high cost of Your death–we’ve been set apart. Rather, help us to view this privilege rightly:  as an opportunity to extend Your reign and Your rule to other people, lifting them to share in this blessing.  Our culture has so much upside down and backwards.  We have become siloed and tribal instead of outreaching; we have become selfish instead of generous; we have become tolerant instead of faithful; we have become lawless instead of holy; we have accepted and even embraced sin; and we have rejected and despised what privilege You died to give us freely by Your grace.  Forgive us, Father.  Lord God, please cover our failures with Your forgiveness.  Forgive us, Lord.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Zechariah’s mind was full of thoughts of faith and family, doubt and duty, as he approached Jerusalem.  Looking up toward the Temple Mount, he marveled, as any traveler would. 

What an impressive wall of massive stones, and Herod’s Temple, a comparatively small but beautifully ornate structure facing east at the end of the courtyard.  The walls, stone upon stone.  The whole complex was an architectural wonder.  A modern feat of engineering and the stone gleamed white in the mid-day sun.  He never tired of seeing it. 

Pilgrimages afforded him an opportunity to enjoy the Temple’s beauty.  

Never mind that it wasn’t Solomon’s Temple which would have had the authenticity of God’s direction before the siege destroyed it, or Zerubbabel’s Temple which was put in place after the Exile. 

Huh” he muttered aloud, unable to keep his thoughts resident in his heart. 

He had read, oh how many times, the disappointment of those who remembered what Solomon had built upon seeing the work of their own hands at what Zerubbabel had managed to get constructed under King Cyrus of Persia. 

Herod’s improvements, while he wasn’t doing it for strictly religious reasons—more political, really—did make the Second Temple far more magnificent, fancy enough to be called Herod’s Temple. 

Herod.  Zechariah sighed the deep sigh of one who loved Adonai and was well-versed in Scripture and knew what he thought of a king such as Herod when the Davidic King foretold was yet to come and take His place on the forever-throne. 

Yet he could not deny Herod’s taste:  the lavish double cloisters, the expansive colonnades, the columns—each made from a single stone carved and polished to a sheen—it was certainly something to behold.  From a human point of view, that is.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. In what way is it okay with God for us to express appreciation at human achievements? 
2. How does the credit—even for human accomplishments—belong with God? 
3. Can people who don’t know or love God still pursue and complete things by His will?  How is this possible?  (See Ezra 1:1-2)
4. Is there a reason why God wouldn’t want us to shift our awe from Him to being more impressed with His Temple?

Self-Reflection topic: Appreciation for beauty

Prayer:  Father God, thank You for the many gifts You give to people to do Your will.  Thank You that one part of our Image-bearing is an outpouring of creativity, ingenuity, and organization displayed first in Yourself.  Yet, because of Your love and grace, there is beauty reflected in our actions, even before we knew You.  Help us never to confuse the gift with the Giver and to keep our awe and our eyes on You.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Yes, Zechariah held a deep wound in an  embrace of emotions. This wound refused to be comforted, and it ruled his thoughts.  Oh how he’d tried to shake it out of his mind!  

Zechariah had no heir.  No child. 

No Isaac of his own. 

No legacy for him or for his dear wife, Elizabeth.  She was barren…and broken.  She tried to be happy for other women when she saw them with their children and grandchildren. 

Her love for others and her efforts in righteousness were well known by everyone. 

She loved and submitted herself into complete obedient service to Adonai.  She loved Him; and she loved her husband. 

She didn’t understand why Adonai did not give her the blessing of children, but she trusted the Almighty and prayed He might turn His face to see her sadness and take away her shame.  Like with Hannah.  She’d devote her son just like Hannah did with Samuel.  Her son would be dedicated to the priesthood in his father Zechariah’s footsteps. 

But no son, no heir, no child, no answer to her many prayers and those of her husband.  She felt the shame of it as there was little else for women to do than keep house, raise families to love Adonai, and to carry His Name forth to generations.  Sons represented hope and a legacy, of land and an inheritance to be given, and blessing to be passed along for posterity.  She didn’t have a child to call “Laughter” (the meaning of Isaac) or to call anything else.  She had no child at all and her reproductive years were well behind her.

***

Their Story, Your Story: 

1. How do you view the connection between obedience and God’s provision? 
2. Why do you think God doesn’t allow us to earn His favor that way? 
3. What does it do to God if He becomes like a divine vending machine? 
4. What about a legacy (an heir) would be important to Zechariah and Elizabeth?  What about a legacy as it relates to you?

Self-Reflection topic: Legacy

Prayer:  Father God, we praise You for comfort in our disappointments and discouragements.  We praise You that our salvation and Your blessings are not contingent upon our behavior.  We thank You for the ways You provide what we need in a way that grows our faith.  Your Word tells us regarding sufferings and disappointments “These have come so that your faith– of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7). We ask, Lord, for our faith to be proved genuine and that all praise, glory and honor will be Yours.  Help us to see our faith in Your Son Jesus Christ as the most precious gift we could carry as our legacy.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Twice a year to offer incense, that’s the ritual for those belonging to the priesthood. 

There were about 18,000 priests who each made the journey twice a year.  These 18,000 were separated into 24 divisions and Zechariah belonged to the eighth order, that of Abijah. 

It was his turn to go for this one-week service window. 

What were the chances he’d do more than just minister outside? 

Practically zilch. 

Yet, there was always something refreshing about making these pilgrimages.

.  

True, there was time for self-reflection on doubt, but as the sun beat down on his dusty path, he was overcome by the newness of hope amidst the doldrums and the routines of life.  For starters, there was a reminder of the privilege: he was a descendant of Aaron and so was his wife.  But also, maybe it was the change of pace, the change of scenery, or even simple opportunities to be alone…alone with his hopes, in the comfort of the past pilgrimages, and alone to ponder the history of all the faithful throughout the generations…on a journey to the center of religious life and thought. 

He was going to the place of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 22:14, he recited aloud “The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” 

He was headed to that very mountain and maybe what his soul needed most—renewal and repair—would be provided in such a place where the Almighty provided to Abram a ram of sacrifice in place of his son Isaac.

***

His Story, Your Story: 

1. Do you have areas of your life in which you are still waiting with hope? 
2. How does it feel to wait patiently? 
3. What routines serve your spiritual life the best during those times? 
4. Which habits are most detrimental to your spiritual life?  Are those habits more detrimental when you’re alone? 
5. How do you use your “alone-time”?

Self-Reflection topic: The value of time alone

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your Word tells us that You often went alone to pray.  Teach us to value our time alone with You.  Teach us how to pray in an ongoing and personal way.  Teach us to overcome bad habits and to ignore distractions.  Help us to set aside everything that interferes with our relationship with You.  Help us to trust in Your provision and to wait patiently upon You.  Amen.

===

By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

===

Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.