relationships (Luke 1:1-23) The Trust-Factor

(Luke 1:1-50)

1 Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting to me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years.

8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

21 And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he repeatedly made signs to them, and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:

How often do we pray for a miracle, but then doubt that God is able or willing to answer that prayer? Curious then why we even bother asking God for any miracles at all?  Well, because, the Bible tells us that all things are possible with God, AND there are miraculous events recorded throughout the Bible, and Jesus does tell us that we do not have because we do not ask...  But, do we really believe that God is willing to do miracles in our lives now?

I remember my mom telling me that, “Yes, God is able to do miracles, but He doesn’t do miracles like He did in the Bible.”  I’m curious if my mom was still alive today, would she still be saying that, or would she have come to realize that God is not only able, but He still does do crazy-big-miracles!  I know personally that He does!  God has worked in my life, and around me, in ways that are undeniable! 

Yet, it’s still so easy to doubt!  Why?!  Even for Zachariah and Elizabeth, they knew from scriptures already written then, that Abraham and Sarah had a son in their very advanced years.  Why NOT them?  And here, Zachariah even had an angel deliver this good news, and still, he struggled to believe this could happen.

Now, interestingly, despite the fact that Zachariah doubted God, and the Lord allowed Zachariah to go through the consequence of being unable to speak until the baby was born, God still answered their prayer and did as He promised!  Perhaps, in our relationship with the Lord, we continue to see Him as a human… as someone who will hold grudges, or someone who will eventually just give up on us, not care anymore, and walk away.   But God wrote this book, His word, for us- so that we can KNOW!!!   So that we can know Him, and know that He does care!

The more we get to know God, His ways and His attributes, the more we can trust in Him.  This also includes knowing Him so well, that we understand He does want the best for us, even when we are going through struggles, or the consequences of our actions, or someone else’s actions.  If and when God does not answer our prayers- in our timeline, or in the way we want it answered- He is faithful, able and willing to do something even better, in His timing, and all to His glory!

relationships (Mark 16:1-20) Trustworthy

(Mark 16:1-20)

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” 4 And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

9 [[Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

12 Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either.

14 Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.]]

[[And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]]

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:

The portion/s in parenthesis were added shortly after.  Perhaps Mark had simply paused in writing this scripture, and after gleaning more eye witness testimonies, as well as more inspiration from the Holy Spirit, he wrote these last bits.  Nonetheless, nothing contradicts everything else that is in the Bible- which is all God-inspired, and all God-breathed. 

As Lee Strobel's investigative reporting uncovered- if the men who wrote the four gospels wanted people to trust and believe these events MORE, they would not have had women being the first to see the risen Christ!  But throughout scripture, we see how God is a great advocate for women, children and the vulnerable!  So, Jesus admonishes the disciples for not believing the testimonies of the women.  But this is not to say that women never lie, we do!  Let's not kid ourselves.

The point is that these events happened JUST AS JESUS HAD TOLD THEM!!! 

There is the popular Christian bumper sticker that says, "God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It!"  But it should really say, "God Said It, That Settles It! I Believe It!"  Whether we believe something or not- does NOT determine Truth.  Truth is!

Just like in any relationship, when we have grown close to someone who has a reliable reputation of being truthful and living with integrity, we'll say things like, "I would trust that person with my life!"  Well, history and science has only supported God's words.  And there are countless ways that God has worked in my life and other people's that are very undeniable.  The more I trust in what He says, the more I see and know that I can trust Him with my life!  Not just for the afterlife, but for right now!  "God Said It, That Settles It!  I Believe It!"