March 13

Lessons of Faith

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 38:13-22| Numbers 19:1 – 20:29| Luke 1:1-25| Proverbs 11:8

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Luke 1:1-25

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 answered, “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 proper time” (Luke 1:18-20 NIV). 

He was a godly man; faithful and diligent in the service of the Lord. Yet even Zechariah wavered in doubt when confronted by the impossible thing God intended to do.

He and his wife were never able to have a child. Now they were old and well past hope that they would ever have a child. In his service of the Lord at the temple, he was confronted by an Angel who brought the most amazing news: “your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.”

I’m sure he wanted to believe it, but it was a stretch of even his faith.  The mixture of hope and doubt is revealed in his words, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Because he was unable to believe the words, he was mute until the promise was fulfilled.

Truly nothing is impossible with God. Yet it is difficult for us, even those who have walked long on the path of faith, to believe when the circumstances all seem to point us in the other direction. Zechariah struggled with this test of faith, and we must admit that we have times where lesser things cause us to struggle.

Wherever we are on the path of faith, there are new challenges and tests of our faith.  Zechariah is a reminder that even a seasoned man or woman of faith, is not through learning and growing in the school of faith.

Faithful and Loving Lord, I praise you that there is nothing too difficult for you. I thank you that I am not walking this journey of faith alone but in union with you as I take up your yoke. Grow my faith, strengthen my faith, enlarge my faith when what I face seems impossible. Remind me that with you nothing is impossible and allow me to walk ahead in confident trust in your ability to get me through. Amen.