Luke 1: Two Faiths Challenged

The angels were busy. The key to God's master plan for the salvation of His children was about to be sent to earth. God had prepared for this day meticulously, and I'm sure it was with great satisfaction He sent His angel Gabriel on two missions to announce the births of two cousins: John and Jesus.

Gabriel appeared to Zacharias while he was offering incense in the temple. Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, were growing old, so when the angel said they would have a son, he said, "How will I know for certain?" He asked for a sign. His faith was challenged, and he disbelieved (Luke 1:20). Earlier Luke recorded for us that Zacharias and Elizabeth "were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord" (Luke 1:6). You'd think his faith would have been stronger.

Gabriel also appeared to Mary (Luke 1:27). When the angel told her "you will conceive in your womb and bear a son," her question was, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). At first glance, this might seem a statement of disbelief like Zacharias'. But this was a perfectly logical question. How can a woman who has had no relations with a man bear a child? God has always answered the honest, seeking question. When Moses kept asking questions (how will Pharaoh believe me? how will I speak, since I'm slow of tongue?), God answered him. When he simply said, "But I don't want to do this; please get someone else," then God became angry with him. Gabriel answered Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you" (Luke 1:35). Mary simply said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). Now THAT is a statement of great faith and trust. She could probably imagine some of the trouble which would come her way when she suddenly got pregnant. But she bowed to the Lord's wishes.

Wouldn't you think an older person would have more faith than a younger? Wouldn't you think an older person could do much more in the kingdom of God than a younger? Mary was probably still a teenager at this point. If you put a teenager beside a Levite who ministered in the temple, who would you put forth as the "most useful in God's service"? Perhaps we should never even THINK this way! Age does not matter. Ability does not matter. Knowledge does not matter. Faith matters. Teenagers can be just as useful in God's kingdom as Elders in the church.

God bless,
Nathan

Did anything jump out at you in today's reading?