Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:67-80

What would be the first thing I would say if I've been silent for 9 months?? Would it be complaining about my suffering or setting the record straight about things that transpired over the last several weeks? Would it be to tell my side of the story? For Zachariah it was to praise God.

Zacharias’ quiet time prepared him for the moments to come. He uses words for the first time in nearly a year and what comes out are words of praise inspired by the Holy Spirit. Zacharias offers a beautiful song, but this is no impromptu, on-the-spot composition. This song is a myriad of Old Testament passages brought together by a common theme. It is easy to identify these as allusions to the Old Testament. While inspired by the Holy Spirit, Zachariah drew from his own life and mind all of these Old Testament references, which came out because Zachariah had first put them in. A purely academic study of Scripture is a sad thing. Without the heart and soul, passion and love the Word of God becomes one more piece of literature to be worried over. When we often lack the appropriate rigor and knowing the Word of God, we are often content with a superficial, vague knowledge of Scripture.

The lives of the great saints of God developed as they knew the Lord and they knew him by His Word. I once heard an illusionist to say after a great performance, "Any five-year-old can do what I do with 25 years of experience." Depth of spiritual maturity and great faith is something that is a result of seeking God and finding him in His Word year after year.

"Lord, give me a passion for Your Word and thereby change me. AMEN"

Luke 1:39-66

Luke 1:39-66

Many of us think we would like to be alone and enjoy silence and solitude. If we experience that reality we might come to a different conclusion. When Zacharias was sentenced for his unbelief in verse 20 the word translated “silent and unable to speak” was not a redundancy; but rather, two aspects of one sentencing. Note in verse 62, when it comes time to name the baby the neighbors and relatives had to “make sign” to Zachariah to know what he wanted to name the baby. Zachariah lived those 9 months in a world of isolation. He could not speak and he could not hear. Alone with his thoughts one wonders what tumbled over in his mind. The hymns of praise witnessed by Mary and Elizabeth were lost on him. In many ways, he was profoundly limited in his ability to share Elizabeth's pregnancy. His work would have no doubt been profoundly affected not to mention his experience at synagogue. Zechariah set the record for the longest quiet time. Without any distraction falling on his ears and without the ability to talk, teach, or engage in conversation, Zechariah had an extended quiet time.

With plenty of time to think when he could finally speak Zechariah broke into praise. He was changed from one who suffers in unbelief into one who praises and prays. That change did not occur at that moment he was able to speak. There was no sudden revelation in the moment. The revelation occurred while he was in the temple. That change occurred while in his quiet time. The change did not occur because he heard from Mary or Elizabeth, the change occurred because of the soul searching that occurred in his quiet time.

What is the point of quiet time? Is it to reinforce our own convictions and opinions? Is it to gain an insight or a bit of trivia, which we did not know before? Is it to earn points with God? Maybe it's just to feel good? Or is the point of being alone with God to allow God to work unseen at the root of some thread, some fiber of unbelief or hidden secret hardness of the heart? There are many things to learn in a quiet time, but none of them are better than to learn how to become more fully devoted to God.

"Lord, in the quiet secret place draw me closer to You. AMEN"

Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-38

The contrast between Mary and Zechariah is too important to miss and shows the difference between unbelief and doubt. These are not the same. Unbelief is a more serious problem and is indicative of a resistance to the Lord. Doubt is the honest questions of an honest heart. At first glance, when Zechariah asks, “How can I know this for certain,” and Mary asks, “How can this be since I am a virgin,” their questions do not appear all that different. However, Mary is looking for the solution to the obstacles while Zechariah was explaining why it could not happen. Mary's question or reasoning seems to be, “I'm a virgin so is this the prediction of a son born after we are married?”

She was wondering how God would do this. The answer of the Holy Spirit’s conception settled the doubt in her mind and she responded with humble submission. The reference to Elizabeth’ pregnancy was objective, outside evidence that could bolster conviction. It is extremely important to know the difference between unbelief and doubt. We have defined ‘doubt’ poorly and imagine it is more negative item then perhaps it ought to be.

Zacharias was telling God’s messenger why it could not happen. In unbelief there is a seed of resistance or fiber of rejection. As if we want to have objections to the Lord's message or even the Lord himself. Given time, unbelief grows toward antagonism, agnosticism and even atheism. Unbelief is not actually seeking to answer the question. Doubt reflects the heart that wants to believe, but is trying to work through the questions that arise, is more intellectually honest and is willing to accept. Unbelief may reflect a mind that is trying to prevent the heart from some experience that may have been painful.

Mary was confident that she would have child, she simply wants to know how this will happen. However, Zechariah may have dealt with the pain of childishness so long that he had a knee-jerk reaction so he would not have to expose his heart to more pain. We need to be careful not to judge hurting people. We need to work through our doubt and seek God's care for and believe even if it seems impossible.

"Lord, protect my heart from unbelief, and help me to trust You in moments of doubt. AMEN" 

Luke 1:1-25

Luke 1:1-25

Faced with an angel universal response is terror. We are at peace as long as we don't come face to face with the reality of our condition. Zacharias was as good a man as we are likely to find. He and his wife are described as “righteous” and “walking blamelessly”. These were people who took their faith seriously and lived it out consistently. But at the divine encounter with an angel he is overcome by fear. Even the best of men are tragically and dynamically impure. We can handle this from ourselves only if we limit our exposure to God. Most people would say that they sincerely believe, “I'm not a bad person.”

But the delusion is only possible so long as we do not come into contact with the Holy. One moment in the presence of one of God’s angels (not to mention God Himself), and our pretenses about being good people are completely shattered. We may, in the presence of God, come face-to-face with a secret and deeply rooted sinful behavior or we may simply have the profound awareness that what we are and what we ought to be are not at all alike. So, how is it that a man who scrupulously keeps the commandments of the Lord and is righteous could have such a problem? We may find the answer in verse 18. There is in Zacharias a fiber of unbelief; it was no doubt small. If asked if he believed that God could do the miraculous he would, no doubt, say, “Yes”. But with an angel present and his declaration, Zacharias’ response was to expose why he could not believe this could happen. This was not a cognitive process. He, if questioned, would admit the angel knew their ages; he was not informing an ignorant angel. He was giving us a glimpse into his true condition. At a deep-seated level, Zacharias believed the circumstances were more powerful than the Lord's messages. Zacharias may not have known that this thread of unbelief existed. It may have been spun over the years of disappointment to prevent heartbreak again. Hidden from his own view, unknown to his own mind, at the moment of the encounter with the Holy he knew something was wrong and fear seized him.

Why is prayer, really deep prayer so hard for us? Because even the best of men are not very good and when we encounter the Holy we become aware of our inadequacy. That is why we so desperately need grace.

"Lord, open my eyes to see the changes in me You want to make. AMEN"