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That’s been the question I’ve been asking God the past few days. This morning, God shed some “light” (pun intended) on it for me. I began reading the book of Luke this morning. I right away began to identify with Zechariah and what happened with him in the temple. Here’s a few points that I could identify with -
1. vs. 6 -He was upright in the sight of the Lord. His wife was too.
(Meaning, he observed the Lord’s commandments )- Even so, his wife Elizabeth was barren.
I’ve been “upright” in God’s sight. (and my family too) – meaning I try very hard to observe all that God tells me to do and I meet with Him every day, attend church like Zechariah did and follow God’s commandments.
and even so, I have struggles. Not the same as Elizabeth in being barren, but with other things that our world still sees as a “disgrace” (vs.25).
2. vs. 9 -He was chosen – (and here’s the thing ). . . by chance.
I may be “chosen” to do a new job and begin a new career. And it feels a lot like “chance”. Being in the right place at the right time – or since we are asking about being “sure” – maybe I should type, ” the wrong place at the wrong time.”
3. vs. 13 -His prayer was heard . . . and . . . about to be answered.
I tend to think this wasn’t a prayer he had that day. His wife was barren their whole life and now they were old. I think it was a prayer that he struggled with for years and wondered why God had not answered it. He had probably given up praying for Elizabeth to get pregnant and gone to asking God, why He hadn’t answered it all those years.
I’ve wondered that too. There are things that I have prayed for with little response from God for years and then my prayer shifts to the why.
But on this day, the day he was chosen by chance, God shows up with the answer!
4. vs. 17 Zechariah gets the answer Which has a purpose beyond what Zechariah wants, it was “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord”.
For me this new job/career could be an answer to a long time prayer, but I know God’s purpose is so much more in this job. It is to reach people for the cause of Christ.
5. vs 19 Zechariah immediately says “How can I be sure?”
Last night, I asked God the very same question about my own future.
Interestingly, God doesn’t come back with any sympathy. but instead causes Zechariah to be unable to speak. (vs.20) I love the line, “You will be silent.” I like it because I’ve heard those words from God myself. And of all the things God could have caused for Zechariah, loosing his speech was one that would keep him from voicing his doubt about God’s plan.
So here’s what God is wanting from me today – To just, Shut Up!
I think He’s pretty tired of me asking the question, “How can I be sure?” and He wants me to keep saying “Yes” to Him, Let Him lead and direct my life. I don’t need to be sure of the events that God is bringing into my life. Only confident in Him that he will make happen. Just as he does for Zechariah. (vs.24)
And, by the way, once it is all fulfilled, Zechariah is able to speak again. However, I bet he is slower to speak when it comes to his doubts about God’s wonderful plan for his life.
March 24th, 2010 at 9:43 am
[...] being sure of something and that I was contemplating a huge job change. If you missed that post click here. My message that day was pretty clear from God, that I shouldn’t doubt and that I should just [...]