Monday, December 3, 2007
Luke 1:18-20 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."
PREPARING FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST WITH HUMBLE SUBMISSION: ZACHARIAS (I)
The priest, Zacharias, and his wife, Elizabeth, had been specially chosen by God to play an important role as the Savior Jesus was about to come into this world, born of His mother, Mary. They too were to have a child. Their child would not be the Savior, but he would be the designated forerunner for the Savior, who had been prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures. Their son would be John the Baptist and his preaching and ministry would prepare the way for the preaching and ministry of Jesus Himself.
Indeed, a high honor had been bestowed upon Zacharias and Elizabeth as they were chosen to be the parents of John the Baptist. However, they would not be your typical parents. They were very old; in fact, much too old to bear a son, according to natural human capabilities. Even Zacharias himself questioned if such a thing could actually be. Unfortunately, this question stemmed from a lack of trust in the Word of God that came to him through the angel. Because of this, God brought a submission of humility upon Zacharias. He would not be able to use his tongue for speech -- the tongue with which he questioned God -- until the time that John would be born.
Sometimes God brings things into the lives of His people to humble them before Him, especially when for a time they forget to humbly submit themselves to Him and His Word. He does not do this to hurt us, rather He does this because He loves us. He does this to bring us closer to him. He does this to prepare our hearts through humble submission -- as He comes to us to dwell with us.
