And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Luke 1:76-75 ESV
When Zechariah uttered this prophecy, a long time had passed since Israel had last heard a prophetic word from the Lord — 400 years, in fact! The people were hungry for a word from God. They were seeking. Ironically, in this first prophecy in 400 years, God used the same man who declared his doubt in God just months earlier as His mouthpiece.
Sometimes we look back on our past sins and failures and assume that we’ve been disqualified from service to God. This is one of the greatest weapons of spiritual warfare that Satan uses to attack God’s people — our pasts. Interestingly, the very instrument Zechariah used to sin against God—his mouth—was the very tool God later used to bring glory to Himself.
Our God is so amazing that He does the same thing in our lives and in others’ lives. There is no mistake so big, no sin so awful, that the power of God’s forgiveness cannot overcome by the sacrifice of Christ. As a child of the King, He paid the price for you.
Is there something in your past holding back from God’s service? Are you listening to the enemy constantly remind you of your past sins? How can you fully trust in the work of Christ to release you from guilt and redeem your past?