June 18 God’s Prommises

Luke 1:18-20 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.”
 
GABRIEL, God’s messenger, has just given to the priest Zechariah a very impossible promise. “You and Elizabeth are going to have a son to be as Elijah!” Zechariah would know that this is Malachi’s prophecy come true! (Malachi 4:5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.) For 400 years the Jews had waited for an Elijah-like prophet to announce the coming of the Messiah. Zechariah has just heard that his son is the Savior! This miracle son to come will prepare a people for the Lord. Centuries of waiting is done. What would be your response to such a promise? Would you, as Zechariah, respond with unbelief? Would you, in essence, tell Gabriel, “No way! That’s impossible.”
     I probably would. In fact, I’m sure I have hundreds of times. For example, when I often find it impossible to believe Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 6:33: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
     Instead, I often say, “Now what do I do? This is too simple. This is impossible. How can this be? I need to be in control. Surely worry will help!” It’s a wonder God doesn’t strike me speechless as he did Zechariah. If my tongue will not confess God’s wonders and believe in God’s promises for my life, what good is my tongue? God’s promise here is of a new day to come to the earth. Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s’ lives will take on new meaning, and their response will bring glory to God. God will use their son to open the final door to the One who is to come and give to us eternal life.
     Eternal salvation is impossible and cannot be unless God does his miracles. And so he does. Yes, trusting God’s salvation through Jesus puts our hearts into a place to build our faith to confess and believe, “God is my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) And in such faith we can let go of, “That’s impossible.” to hear God say, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:10-11)
      Some days it is good to be silent to hear God’s confident and comforting promises. Yes, these things are for you.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your eternal promises. Grow my faith to exalt you in all I do. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.