Air1's Verse of the Day for May 29, 2023

Your Obedience Creates Ripples

Read the transcript from today's video devotional.

God wasn't simply answering Elizabeth and Zechariah's prayer for a child. He was orchestrating something far greater. According to Luke chapter 1, verses 16 and 17, their son would turn many Israelites to the Lord their God and prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. God was giving the gift of Elijah to their neighbors, using their son to renew His relationship with Israel.

A Community Witnesses God's Work

When Elizabeth gave birth, her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her. Everyone rejoiced with her. The community was already paying attention.

Eight days later, during the circumcision ceremony, Zechariah and Elizabeth demonstrated their commitment to obeying God, even when it defied tradition. The crowd wanted to name the baby Zechariah, but Elizabeth insisted his name is John. When they questioned this unprecedented choice—no family member bore that name—they turned to the still mute Zechariah. He motioned for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." Instantly his voice returned and he began praising God.

This moment of obedience sent shockwaves through their community. Luke chapter 1, verse 64 through 66 captures the profound impact: "Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, 'What will this Child turn out to be?' For the hand of the Lord was surely upon Him in a special way."

Undeniable Evidence of Divine Intervention

Their neighbors couldn't deny God was at work. They witnessed the entire sequence: Zechariah's temple vision and subsequent muteness, Elizabeth's geriatric pregnancy, the couple's insistence on the name John despite family tradition, and Zechariah's restored voice. Each event built upon the last, creating undeniable evidence of divine intervention.

This couple's trial became their testimony. Their obedience created a ripple effect that spread throughout the Judean hills and continues today. We're still talking about it 2,000 years later. The neighbors' question, "What will this Child turn out to be?" reveals how profoundly one family's faithfulness impacted an entire community. Their obedience didn't just affect their family. It influenced future generations and God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Your Faithfulness Matters

As you navigate unexpected circumstances, commit to doing things God's way, even when it doesn't make sense to onlookers. You may not realize how many people are watching to see how God will come through for you. Your obedience creates ripples that can positively impact generations you'll never meet.

Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, your faithfulness in the small, seemingly private moments of decision can become a testimony that spreads far beyond your neighborhood. God uses ordinary people's extraordinary obedience to broadcast His faithfulness to a watching world.

Verse of the Day

Your Obedience Creates Ripples

Verse of the Day Sign Up

Previous Verses

When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him.

"You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.”

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

For, “Who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach Him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

O Lord, You alone are my hope. I’ve trusted You, O LORD, from childhood.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

The Lord will reign forever and ever!”

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

O Lord our God, others have ruled us, but You alone are the one we worship.

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.

They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.

“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord ’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

Indeed, He loves His people; all His holy ones are in His hands. They follow in His steps and accept His teaching.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely.

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.

No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love.

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord . Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly.

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ.

But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, “You are my God!”

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’ ”

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.