DECEMBER 5, 2023
Luke 1:13-15a, 16a, 17b
But the angel said to him, "Do not be
afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the
Lord. ... And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their
God, ... to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
"Don't be afraid, because your prayer has been heard!" My mind
has me wondering if Zechariah's first reaction to this announcement might have
been. "Yikes, do I really want this after all?" Because that can
happen, can't it? I mean we pray so long for something that it becomes a routine,
and when God suddenly says yes, you do a double-take and wonder if you really
want to raise a baby in old age.
God knows and understands we have those moments, and doesn’t turn away from us.
The angel goes right on with the message while Zechariah gets his thoughts
together. Then, nine months later, heart and soul and mind has grasped the
revelation and Zechariah rejoices: ""Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel!" (Luke 1:68a)
Are you experiencing a blessing that has its scary side? If so, you can trust
in God to carry you through it, second thoughts and all. Jesus came into the
world to save all of us, the enthusiastic and reluctant alike. Jesus’ desire
for you and me is what carried Him through suffering, death, and resurrection, and He will
bring us home, just as He promised.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment