SHELBY TOWNSHIP – I love reading about the birth of Jesus every year as the Christmas season rolls around. If I am not careful, I can read through the events of Jesus’ birth quickly and move on to the next thing on my busy holiday “to-do” list. There are so many treasures to find in the Bible when we slow down and take time for God to speak to us through His Word.
I love the beginning of the first chapter of Luke. We see two very similar stories that Luke writes about, yet two very different responses.
In Luke 1:13-17 (NIV) we read about an angel visiting Zechariah. Luke writes,
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 give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 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 from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Elizabeth and Zechariah had faithfully prayed for a child through the years, and the Bible says in Luke 1:7 “that Elizabeth was barren and they were both well along in years.”
Zechariah responds to the angel of the Lord with a question that revealed his unbelief. In Luke 1:18 (NIV), Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
Instead of looking to God and believing He could do the impossible, Zechariah’s question showed that he was looking at human limitations when God is a limitless God! Zechariah needed a sign that the angel was from God. He was looking for assurance, rather than putting his faith and trust in God. Since Zechariah responded in unbelief, the Lord closed his mouth and he was unable to speak until his son John was born.
As we continue to read in Luke 1, we read about Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel.
In Luke 1:28-33 (NIV), Luke writes,
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Mary responded to Gabriel with a question that revealed her heart. “How will this be, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Mary’s response showed that even though she knew what would happen, she just didn’t know how it would happen. Her question showed her faith, not unbelief. She was wondering how a virgin can physically give birth? She wasn’t questioning if it was possible, she just wanted to know how it was going to happen.
Mary responds in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”
Mary’s response showed her heart of surrender. She trusted the word that came from the Lord, and she gave herself fully to God’s plan.
I long to have a heart of surrender like Mary, but more often than I care to admit, I am more like Zechariah. Recently, the Lord spoke something to me, but I didn’t see it unfold in the time frame I thought it should; therefore, I allowed fear to creep in.
I began to take the situation into my hands and started to change plans. Thankfully, one day as I was reading in 2 Chronicles, God revealed to me where I wasn’t trusting Him. I confessed my sin, and told God from that point forward I would trust Him in that situation. You know what? He showed up and everything worked out the way He told me it would!
How do you respond when God speaks something in your life? Are you like Zechariah and question if it is possible? Do you constantly ask God for a sign to be sure it is Him? Or do you respond like Mary, fully surrendered to do the work of the Lord. Do you know Him well enough to recognize His voice and trust His ways?
I invite you to pray the following prayer of surrender as you yield to God’s plan in your life.
Father God,
Thank you for loving me despite my faults and lack of trust. God, I want my heart to be fully surrendered to you. I confess that often I ask for a sign of confirmation or I question the things you speak over me. I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief! Show me where I struggle to trust you and build my faith. I pray that as I learn to discern your voice, I will be courageous and obey what you are asking me to do. Lord, I want my life to matter for you and for eternity.
Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen is married to Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and moved from Florida to Michigan in the summer of 2009 to plant Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township. She enjoys mentoring and discipling women and also leads women’s life groups through her church. She is passionate about helping women find their purpose in who God created them to be. She is on staff at Lakepointe Church and loves being part of what God is doing in the Metro Detroit area!
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