I was reading the first chapter of Luke yesterday and I was struck again by the interaction between the priest, Zechariah and the angel Gabriel. The setting is that Zechariah was chosen to do something that not every priest was allowed to do. He would go alone into the inner part of the Temple and burn incense during one of the two prayer times that were done each day. While he was in there, an angel appears and Zechariah…well, he is just about as scared as you can be without passing out! And the angel says that even though Zechariah and his wife are pretty old…they are going to have their first baby soon; John the Baptist. Now when an angel appears and its presence is so stunning that I’d be shaking with fear, I think I’d go along with all that he is saying. But Zechariah says “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” The thing that struck me was “How can I be sure this will happen?” That wasn’t a lot of faith for a priest doing a service in the Temple in Jerusalem. And Gabriel pretty well stuns him with a description of who he is and who he hangs out with…God himself. And he says since you didn’t believe what I said…you won’t be able to speak until the child I told you about is born. I kind of shook my head at poor Zechariah, but then I began to think about how I react to God’s promises. There are times when I am backed in a corner and I’m wondering if God will indeed rescue me…again! There are going to be times when you will feel skeptical over
something that God has said in his word. And you and I might be like Zechariah and in our hearts say… “How can I be sure this will happen?” God makes promises to you and me. They are all over the pages of the Bible. God doesn’t lie and he doesn’t forget…he is not like we are. We need to hear what God has to say and then choose to be faithful, trusting in his Word. I don’t know what my response would have been that day, all by myself with this angel and getting news that seems impossible to me. But I hope that I would in my heart and mind say…With men it is impossible…not so with God. With God, all things are possible. Don’t give up on God. Don’t give in to doubt. Trust God to promise to do the impossible in your world…and then wait for him to do it at just the right time. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 1:18-20 NLT Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” (19) Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! (20) But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
something that God has said in his word. And you and I might be like Zechariah and in our hearts say… “How can I be sure this will happen?” God makes promises to you and me. They are all over the pages of the Bible. God doesn’t lie and he doesn’t forget…he is not like we are. We need to hear what God has to say and then choose to be faithful, trusting in his Word. I don’t know what my response would have been that day, all by myself with this angel and getting news that seems impossible to me. But I hope that I would in my heart and mind say…With men it is impossible…not so with God. With God, all things are possible. Don’t give up on God. Don’t give in to doubt. Trust God to promise to do the impossible in your world…and then wait for him to do it at just the right time. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Luke 1:18-20 NLT Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” (19) Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! (20) But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ