“I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Luke 1:18 NIV
We don’t know how long Zechariah and Elizabeth had been married, but it could easily have been 30 or 40 years. In those days, being childless was a matter of reproach (Luke 1:25). For many years, they had entreated God to give them a child, but their prayers had gone unanswered. Now that they were physically too old to have children, they had come to terms with their disappointment. They had concluded that it was not God’s will. When the angel suddenly announced that they would have a child, Zechariah doubted.
You’ve been there, haven’t you? You’ve prayed for something for so long and your prayers have gone unanswered. You’ve concluded, “It isn’t going to happen.” Then, maybe, even after you’ve stopped praying, suddenly there is a glimmer of hope that your prayers are about to be answered. But you didn’t want to get your hopes up, only to have them dashed again. You protected yourself by saying, “Let’s wait and see”. But in your heart, you were doubting God. Thankfully, God in His grace often pours out His blessings despite our doubts! That was the case with Zechariah. God lovingly disciplined His servant, but Zechariah’s doubt could not stop the sovereign plan of God. Part of the solution to our doubts is to understand the source of them. We are all prone to doubt because of our sinful hearts, and this is often coupled with our disappointments and trials. Luke wants us to see that the solution to doubt is to realise that God will do what He says He will do.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Thank You, Lord, for doing what You say You will do, despite our doubts.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, though we are all prone to doubt because of our sinful hearts, which is often coupled with our disappointments and trials, help us to see that the solution to our doubt is to realise that You will do what You say You will do. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Jeremiah 31:31-34
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