December 4
Bible Verses Covered
Devotion: Now here is a priest, one who has broken none of God’s commandments and is considered righteous in the eyes of the Lord. He is alone in a sanctuary, lighting incense, when the angel Gabriel appears with this message: you will have a son possessed of the Holy Spirit who will prepare the world for God’s new covenant, one of unconditional love, understanding and forgiveness. Wow! We would expect the priest to fall to his knees and give thanks to God. But this is not Zechariah’s reaction.
Zechariah is filled with fear and doubt. He’s a sensible man and knows that it is impossible for him to have a child since Elizabeth, his wife, is barren and they are simply too old. So Zechariah, having apparently conquered his fear, asks Gabriel for proof.
It’s only natural to seek proof when in doubt. But when we demand proof, as Zechariah does here, we confess a certain amount of weakness in our faith. After all, to have faith is to believe in the absence of proof.
As this story and others in the Bible teach us, faith is important to God. And yet, we all experience doubt. Even the righteous priest Zechariah doubts that God is capable of miracles beyond our worldly knowledge.
Doubt can play an important role in faith. Without it, we might not ask the questions that lead us to reflect on, and as a consequence grow in, our faith. Perhaps this is what Gabriel had in mind when he imposed a little “quiet time” on the doubtful Zechariah.
Prayer: God, may my doubts fuel my faith, and may my fear not prevent me from falling to my knees in thanks for the miracle of God’s unconditional love and faith in us, his children. Amen
Devotion: Now here is a priest, one who has broken none of God’s commandments and is considered righteous in the eyes of the Lord. He is alone in a sanctuary, lighting incense, when the angel Gabriel appears with this message: you will have a son possessed of the Holy Spirit who will prepare the world for God’s new covenant, one of unconditional love, understanding and forgiveness. Wow! We would expect the priest to fall to his knees and give thanks to God. But this is not Zechariah’s reaction.
Zechariah is filled with fear and doubt. He’s a sensible man and knows that it is impossible for him to have a child since Elizabeth, his wife, is barren and they are simply too old. So Zechariah, having apparently conquered his fear, asks Gabriel for proof.
It’s only natural to seek proof when in doubt. But when we demand proof, as Zechariah does here, we confess a certain amount of weakness in our faith. After all, to have faith is to believe in the absence of proof.
As this story and others in the Bible teach us, faith is important to God. And yet, we all experience doubt. Even the righteous priest Zechariah doubts that God is capable of miracles beyond our worldly knowledge.
Doubt can play an important role in faith. Without it, we might not ask the questions that lead us to reflect on, and as a consequence grow in, our faith. Perhaps this is what Gabriel had in mind when he imposed a little “quiet time” on the doubtful Zechariah.
Prayer: God, may my doubts fuel my faith, and may my fear not prevent me from falling to my knees in thanks for the miracle of God’s unconditional love and faith in us, his children. Amen