Take it By Faith
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to have the faith of a little child. If my Daddy says it, then it is settled for me.
Read LUKE 1:11-25
[11] Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. [12] When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. [13] But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. [14] He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, [15] for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. [16] He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. [17] And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” [18] Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” [19] The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. [20] And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” [21] Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. [22] When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. [23] When his time of service was completed, he returned home. [24] After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. [25] “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you need proof before believing?Zechariah has been chosen to come into the Temple to burn incense, a privilege very few priests or Levites would ever experience. While in the Temple, the angel Gabriel stands before Zechariah and brings him a most magnificent promise. He is to have a son in his old age, and that son is to be the promised forerunner of the Messiah.This is all very spectacular and unexpected, and it is not surprising that it would take a minute for Zechariah to catch his breath and take it all in. What is surprising is Zechariah’s response, “How can I be sure of this?” (18). If Zechariah was looking for a sign to confirm God’s Word, it leaves me to wonder what would do it if not the appearance of the archangel Gabriel. God has made many promises. They may seem spectacular to us. Maybe we tend to think many of them are for the Early Church or missionaries in remote places or someone other than us. But God is looking for faith (Heb 11:6) and “faith makes all things possible” (Mark 9:23). Let us dare to believe that God can and is willing to do the impossible!
Apply
Get out your journal and start to imagine with God. Remember Who you are coming to and dream big.
Closing prayer
Father, You are the God who sent angels, gave life where there was none and sent Your prophet. Grow my expectations!
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