August 21, 2012
Luke—a letter written by a doctor to his friend. It is a carefully written and full-of-detail letter, almost like a research paper. Luke thought he was just writing his thoughts and findings to a friend, but God had other plans. He had a role to play—a God-given role—and his writings, now part of the New Testament, have influenced millions of people. Our responsibility is to be faithful to the role God has given us. What God does with the role He has given us is His responsibility.
Zechariah and Elizabeth "truly did what God said was good." hey had major disappointments in their lives (they didn't have children) but that did not stop them from living right. They continued on and did what God said was good. They persevered and God heard their prayers. Even though God heard their prayer, they did not see their prayer answered until many years later. When God sent an angel to tell Zechariah their prayers had been heard, Zechariah had a hard time believing it was actually true and he questioned the angel. Luke 1:18 - "How can I know that what you say is true?" God sent Gabriel to tell Zechariah he was going to be the recipient of a Blessed Event and he questioned the truth of it. Let's face it. We would have probably questioned it as well.
Did Zechariah believe—truly believe—what he said he believed? Do we believe—truly believe—what we say we believe? Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people. They followed God's ways. They knew what God had done for Abraham. They knew God was capable of anything. But, Zechariah did not ask, "Who am I to receive this Blessed Event?" No, he asked, "How do I know this is true?" And because his tongue questioned God, his tongue was quieted. He was unable to speak again until he acknowledged this was indeed a Blessed Event. He acknowledged where this gift came from when he named the child the name Gabriel gave him—John.
Mary by contrast, was startled when the angel appeared to her and told her she was going to have a child, but she was not doubtful. She asked, "How will this happen?" She didn't say, "How will I know this is true" or "if" this happens. The angel told her how; he answered her question; he told her what was happening with Elizabeth; and he assured her saying, "God can do anything." Mary replied, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say." (Luke 1:38 She unashamedly accepted the role God gave her to play. The key phrase—she was a "servant of the Lord."
Mary went to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth said, "You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen." Mary was blessed because she believed. Zechariah became mute because he doubted. Then Mary did the most important thing we've learned these last five plus years. She praised God.
We KNOW what God has promised us. We believe He will do what He has said He will do. We accept the role He has given us to play. First and foremost, we praise His Holy Name.
From the Life Lesson ~
Life Lesson Application: "Remember, God can do anything. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, then ask him for the power and courage to do it."
Addendum: 1/25/16 ~ God CAN do anything. WE BELIEVE!
Next Entry: Luke 2:1–52
Luke—a letter written by a doctor to his friend. It is a carefully written and full-of-detail letter, almost like a research paper. Luke thought he was just writing his thoughts and findings to a friend, but God had other plans. He had a role to play—a God-given role—and his writings, now part of the New Testament, have influenced millions of people. Our responsibility is to be faithful to the role God has given us. What God does with the role He has given us is His responsibility.
Zechariah and Elizabeth "truly did what God said was good." hey had major disappointments in their lives (they didn't have children) but that did not stop them from living right. They continued on and did what God said was good. They persevered and God heard their prayers. Even though God heard their prayer, they did not see their prayer answered until many years later. When God sent an angel to tell Zechariah their prayers had been heard, Zechariah had a hard time believing it was actually true and he questioned the angel. Luke 1:18 - "How can I know that what you say is true?" God sent Gabriel to tell Zechariah he was going to be the recipient of a Blessed Event and he questioned the truth of it. Let's face it. We would have probably questioned it as well.
Did Zechariah believe—truly believe—what he said he believed? Do we believe—truly believe—what we say we believe? Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people. They followed God's ways. They knew what God had done for Abraham. They knew God was capable of anything. But, Zechariah did not ask, "Who am I to receive this Blessed Event?" No, he asked, "How do I know this is true?" And because his tongue questioned God, his tongue was quieted. He was unable to speak again until he acknowledged this was indeed a Blessed Event. He acknowledged where this gift came from when he named the child the name Gabriel gave him—John.
Mary by contrast, was startled when the angel appeared to her and told her she was going to have a child, but she was not doubtful. She asked, "How will this happen?" She didn't say, "How will I know this is true" or "if" this happens. The angel told her how; he answered her question; he told her what was happening with Elizabeth; and he assured her saying, "God can do anything." Mary replied, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say." (Luke 1:38 She unashamedly accepted the role God gave her to play. The key phrase—she was a "servant of the Lord."
Mary went to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth said, "You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen." Mary was blessed because she believed. Zechariah became mute because he doubted. Then Mary did the most important thing we've learned these last five plus years. She praised God.
"My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior, because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed, because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy. God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him. He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing. He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, remembering to show them mercy as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever." Luke 1:46–56Elizabeth gave birth.Everyone expected the child to be named after a family member but Elizabeth said no, he is to be named John. So, they go to Zechariah, thinking he will have something different to say. Zechariah, who was still unable to speak, asks for a writing tablet and writes, "His name is John," and immediately he could speak again and "he began praising God." When Zechariah obeyed he was immediately restored, and his desire was to praise God.
"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God's servant David. He said that he would do this through his holy prophets who lived long ago. He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of those who hate us. He said he would give mercy to our fathers and that he would remember his holy promise. God promised Abraham, our father, that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear, being holy and good before God as long as we live. Now, you child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way. You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us. It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace." Luke 1:68–79Zechariah went from doubting, to immediately being restored when he accepted and acknowledged God's plan, to praising God with absolute confidence that God was going to do what He said He was going to do. He used past and future tense words to describe what had not yet happened. "He has come... has given freedom... has given Savior... he said... he promised he would save... he said he would give mercy... God promised... you will be called... you will go... you will make... a new day will dawn... it will shine... it will guide." (Luke 1:68–79) From doubting to knowing!
We KNOW what God has promised us. We believe He will do what He has said He will do. We accept the role He has given us to play. First and foremost, we praise His Holy Name.
From the Life Lesson ~
"Hope is not what you expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild improbable tale with a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming ending... Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reactions." ~ From God Came Near by Max LucadoWell said!!
Life Lesson Application: "Remember, God can do anything. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, then ask him for the power and courage to do it."
Addendum: 1/25/16 ~ God CAN do anything. WE BELIEVE!
Next Entry: Luke 2:1–52
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