Over the next five weeks we are going to look at a series of angelic encounters that people had around the time of Jesus’ birth. With each one we will share a passage from Matthew or Luke where you can read the full story. This week we are looking at Luke 1:5-25, 39-56.
Have you ever prayed for something to happen, but when it did happen, you had trouble believing that the answer was really from God? In this story Zacharias, a priest, has the privilege of going into the temple to burn incense. While there, an angel appears to him and says, “Do not be afraid Zacharias, for your prayer is heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Amazing! God really does hear prayers and answers! But instead of Zacharias doing a happy dance and thanking God He questions, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and I’m well advanced in years.”
We don’t know the back story but we do know that Zacharias had a dream of having a son. Had he been faithfully praying to God asking Him to fulfill that dream or had Zacharias given up on the dream and given up on praying for it to happen? Either way, God had chosen this day and time to respond.
Our words matter. In 2 Cor. 4:13c we read “we also believe and therefore speak.” Zacharias’s response reminds me a lot of how I can be, for I usually see the obstacles first. In addition, my habit of processing things verbally can cause me to stay in a place of unbelief. Sometimes I just need to bite my lip and be quiet. I need to approach my situation with child-like awe and wonder. Instead of asking “why”, I need to ask, “why not?”
Because of Zachariah’s unbelief, Gabriel gives him a sign which also is a blessing in disguise. In Luke 1:20 Gabriel says, “But behold, you will be mute and not be able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words.“ Sometimes our faith grows the most when we have nothing to say – When we can’t boast in our abilities nor complain about our lack of ability to change things.
This week join me in asking the Holy Spirit, “Is there anything I’m praying for or hoping will happen that I need to quit speaking negatively about? Lord, give me grace to ask, believe, and silently wait for You to bring it to pass!
