The Sacred Routine
Faithfulness in Everyday Life
Scripture: Luke 1:8-10
“Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.” (Luke 1:8–10, ESV)
The day began as all temple days did, with the sun rising over Jerusalem's rooftops and the sounds of a city stirring awake. Zechariah walked the well-worn path to the temple, his steps steady, though perhaps a little slower than they once had been. After so many years of service, this was a journey he could make with his eyes closed. He could picture every corner of this holy space. Zechariah was going to do his job just as his family had done for generations. Little did he know that this would be a morning unlike anything he had ever experienced.
As a priest from the division of Abijah, Zechariah served at the temple twice a year. However, because there were more priests than there were, tasks and assignments were made by casting lots. Many priests would go their entire lives without being selected for the sacred responsibility of offering incense. As he drew near the beautiful and massive temple, he watched the priests gather, waiting for their assignments by lot. Zechariah took his place and probably expected another day of assisting with routine sacrifices or leading prayers for the worshippers assembled in the outer courts.
But then, the unexpected happened. Zechariah stood and listened as he had so many times before, but today would be different—the lot fell to him for the most sacred task of all: offering incense in the Holy Place. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity placed him alone in the Holy Place, standing before the altar of incense, symbolizing the prayers of Israel. It was the moment every priest longed for, yet one many would never experience. What may have seemed like an ordinary day of service must have suddenly felt like a monumental occasion, a testament to the extraordinary ways in which God can work through the ordinary.
Surely, Zechariah's heart quickened as he confirmed that he had heard correctly and began to understand what this meant. Perhaps many of the priests around him began congratulating him. This day, which started like any other, was suddenly the most significant moment of his career. Zechariah's simple act of showing up to fulfill his responsibilities became the means by which God accomplished his work.
God's Providence in the Ordinary
Zechariah's story reminds us that with God, there are no accidents, only Providence. The lot falling to Zechariah was no coincidence. It was the divine hand of God at work, turning what seemed like a routine day into the beginning of something extraordinary. Proverbs 16:33 reminds us, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."
We may not know what a day holds, but God does. He works through ordinary circumstances to fulfill His plans. Our role is faithfulness—showing up, worshipping, and trusting Him in the everyday rhythms of life. Zechariah's service teaches us that even the most routine acts of obedience can be the setting for a divine encounter.
Reflection: Faithfulness in the Mundane
Perhaps instead of waiting for something big or thinking that God only works through the miraculous, we should focus on being faithful in the ordinary. Zechariah could have let disappointment over unanswered prayers cloud his service, but instead, he showed up ready to serve.
Where is God calling you to be faithful today? What "ordinary" routines in your life might He be using to shape something extraordinary?
Practical Applications for Daily Worship
Reframe Your Routine: Choose one ordinary task today—preparing a meal, driving to work, or helping a friend—and offer it as an act of worship.
Pray with Expectation: Like the prayers rising with Zechariah's incense, trust that God hears and holds your prayers.
Trust the Timing: Be faithful in your role, knowing God's timing is perfect, and His plans are already in motion.
A Prayer for Faithfulness
Lord, thank You for working through the ordinary moments of my life. Help me to be faithful in my daily routines, trusting that You are at work in ways I cannot see. May my service, however small, be an offering of worship to You. Amen.
QUOTE TO REFLECT ON:
“With God, there are no accidents, only Providence. Our duty is faithfulness, for we never know what a day may hold.”
Why Zechariah's Story Encourages Us
Zechariah's story is a reminder that God usually works through the ordinary to accomplish His extraordinary work. While you go about your ordinary daily tasks, God sees your faithfulness. Be encouraged—no act of worship or service is wasted, and no moment is too small for Him to use.
