Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 

In just a few verses time, we are going to read some words of the angel Gabriel concerning John:

… he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (15).

The godly Scottish preacher, Robert Murray McCheyne said, ‘What a man is on his knees, before God, that he is and nothing more.’

Similarly, someone observed that ‘Character is what you are in the dark.’ It’s what we are when no-one else is looking.

Most of our lives are hidden to others: our desires, motivations, ambitions, etc. But ”Thou God seest me” (Gn.16:13).

People may judge, or misjudge us, but God knows our hearts, and we are ultimately answerable to Him. Who we are before Him is what matters most.

Jesus said to some religious leaders in His day:

… you gladly honour each other, but you don’t care about the honour that comes from the one who alone is God (John 5:44 NLT).

PRAYER: Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps.139:23,24).