In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division

of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

(Luke 1:5 ESV)

It had been 400 years since God had spoken from Heaven; not since Malachi had there been a

prophet amongst the Hebrews. Generations had come and gone who had not known the voice

of the prophets amongst God’s chosen people. Exiled in their own land – ruled by an Idumean

who himself was a servant of the Romans – surrounded by a culture that no longer respected

their God, their worship, or their traditions.

God had been faithful to keep His promises to their ancestors, but the Israelites were still

waiting for the long-promised Messiah. They had begun to doubt if God would come through on

the promise of a deliverer. Herod, having been appointed king of Judea by the Roman Senate,

proved himself to be a cunning and cruel ruler. The Children of Israel found themselves in the

midst of a long, dark, silent night.

It was in this dark hour that the silence of Heaven was broken. Luke’s narrative recounts for us

how the angel first announced the coming birth of John to Zechariah, and then later announced

the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to Mary and Joseph. Why now? Why had the Messiah not

come sooner; why had God been silent for so long?

In 400 years of silence, God was still at work. The Apostle Paul (Galatians 4:4) says that Christ

came in the fullness of time. He came at just the right time.

Perhaps you find yourself in a season where it seems as though God is silent, where you don’t

see the way forward. Maybe you are concerned about your current circumstances or anxious

about the days ahead. Take courage in the knowledge that God is at work even in the silence,

His purpose is for our good and His glory, and His timing is perfect.

By Jesse Smith

Your Daily Missions Moment:

According to statistics gathered in 2020. 14.4% of the population of Lexington attend church. That’s about 46,000 people out of a population of 322,000. We have about 300 churches in the Lexington, Fayette County area. That’s one church for every 1073 people.

Please pray for all churches in Lexington as we try to reach our city with the good news of Jesus. Especially pray for these missionaries working in Lexington.

Nestor Gomez, Lexington, Latino Population

Khum and Candy Hauzel, Lexington, Indian population

Gilbert Hategeka: Lexington, Congolese population



As you pray for these missionaries, pray about how God is calling you to be a missionary right here in Lexington. All of us are missionaries, How can you spread the gospel in your every day routine?