When God Says …
“And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.” (Luke 1:18-20 KJV).
We’d probably be tempted to ask: how could Zacharias doubted? He was a priest privileged to be in the inner chamber of the Temple offering at the altar of incense. He should have been expectant of the Lord’s presence! Perhaps, one would dare to say: I would not have doubted angel Gabriel’s message. Really?
We know better. In our human frailty, still in the flesh, our perspective is limited. Even with Zecharias’s years of faithful service, the experiences and goodness God poured out upon him in the Temple were simply too much to comprehend. In his carnal mindset, Zecharias confronted the good news from heaven with unbelief. The news was unreconcilable with the reality of his aging body and the barrenness of his wife. Maybe, as most often happens to many of us, he wanted more assurance. Doubt, even on our best of days, pushes us to demand for proof - just like the doubting Thomas (John 20:25).
But, thanks be to our Heavenly Father, He didn't take away His gift of grace and promises simply because Zecharias couldn't believe the bewildering promise he was given. Let us therefore use Zecharias’s encounter to remind us that God keeps his promises even when they are "infinitely more than we might ask or think."
As children of the Most High God in Christ Jesus, Apostle Paul, therefore, exhorts us with these words: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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