It's the REAL Thursday of week 2 in Advent
(I don't know how
many of you politely ignored my saying yesterday was Thursday).
Something to think about today... Luke 1:11-13
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared
to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was
startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: "Do
not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Later in the passage: Luke 1:18-20
18 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."
An Old saying crops up here: WHEN TRUST IS LOST, FEAR MOVES
IN.
We all face it - and on most days. We struggle with trust,
and fear moves in. Zechariah faced it. The Angel Gabriel is giving him good
news and he stands awaiting Zechariah's response. When he speaks, he speaks in
fear...trust is gone, fear moved in.
Gabriel seems indignant - "What? What is the matter
with you Zechariah?"
The answer my friends is not the absence of fear...that is
probably impossible. The answer is turning away from the fear that surfaces and
simply say, "Lord, I Trust You."
Comments