January 8

A True and Holy Life

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron. — Luke 1:5 BSB

The times we live in and the influences around us greatly impact us. When godliness fills a society, it’s not surprising when people live righteously. But in ungodly times, when unrighteousness prevails, a holy life shines even brighter, like a lamp in the darkness.

The days of Herod were such times—marked by corruption and hypocrisy. Yet in the midst of this, there were a few, like the blameless old couple mentioned here, who lived in godly simplicity.

This teaches us that we don’t have to be like the world around us, especially if the world isn’t living as it should. We shouldn’t settle for a low standard of living just because it’s common. Even in the worst of times, we should strive to live righteous and godly lives.

It’s not impossible, either. God will give us the grace we need to live well, no matter our circumstances. He doesn’t place us where we cannot grow spiritually. Wherever He plants us, He sends streams of grace to nourish us. So, regardless of our circumstances, we can live a godly life. The darker the world around us, the brighter our light should shine. It’s easy to live well in favorable circumstances, but it’s even more important to stay true to Christ when surrounded by those who don’t care about Him.