Advent Reading ~In His Word Day 2 December 2, 2020
Sometimes we must reread things to clarify what it is that
was said. Yesterday I mentioned that Zechariah laughed but as I read back in
the New King James version of the Word of God, I see that he was more doubting
than laughing. Due to his lack of belief the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, took
away his ability to speak until he had to tell them on a tablet what John was
to be called.
We have the choice to believe and be saved, according to the scripture in the
book of Acts 16:31. Zechariah, or Zacharia as some versions spell it, chose to
doubt that his wife was able to bear a child at such an old age, but we know
that God is able to anything and if we believe it we will see it!
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the
Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah
was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said,
“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will
give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the
eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will
be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many
Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power
of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn
the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to
accept the wisdom of the godly.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will
happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very
presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now,
since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak
until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper
time.” Luke 1:11-20
After John’s birth his father was able to speak again. He
also was able to prophesy over his son John.
Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit
and gave this prophecy:
“And you, my little
son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the
way for the Lord. You will tell his
people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those
who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of
peace.” John grew up and became strong
in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to
Israel. You can read the full prophecy in Luke 1:67-80.
John grew up in the desert one version said, the wilderness reads
another translation. Either way God provided for his every need and he grew up
in the knowledge that he was chosen to be the voice of one calling from the
wilderness. What an honor!
He was called by God yet had to wait for the time to be
right.
Sometimes we may feel like we are in the wilderness, or a place
in a dry life. I mean that our prayers can feel dry, our worship can feel dry,
even the Word can feel dry to us when our spirit is not attuned with God. When
we remember who we are in Christ, that He gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us,
and when we open up our hearts to hear what He is saying… it can be a life
giving living river flowing through us just as John the Baptist stood in as he baptized
the people and told them to repent! When we are walking in the Spirit we will
feel the excitement of the season, the excitement of celebrating Jesus’ birth,
and we will fill up with songs and hymns a spiritual songs making music in our
heart to the Lord! Then our hearts will be full of peace, Joy and the
excitement for what God will do with this time we are alive in! Then we will
trust God to bring us through the dry land to live and dwell in the place in
life that He has put before us to fulfil the purpose He brought us here for.
Just like John who was said to have lived on locust and wild honey prior to his
ministry beginning just as Jesus was beginning His, we can walk according to
our callings. In Jesus’ name.
Today, think on the faithfulness of God. Read Psalm 27, and remember
His goodness, His faithfulness to all generations!