"The Correct Response"

"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Luke 1:18
"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

Two events were recorded in this chapter that were related to each other.  The angel Gabriel appeared to both Zacharias and Mary to bring them news of God's plan in their lives. 

The angel told Zacharias that his wife was going to conceive and bare a son whose name would be John.  John would be the fore runner of the Messiah- preparing the way for Him.  Zacharias response was-- "this is impossible because my wife and I are both too old to bear children".

The angel told Mary that she was going to conceive and give birth to the Christ, the Messiah.  Her response was-- "how is this possible biologically, it takes a man and woman to produce a child and I haven't been with a man?"

Zacharias' response was "this is impossible". Mary's response was "how is this possible?"  Zacharias made a statement.  Mary asked a question.  Zacharias' response was based on what he saw.  Mary's response was based on the Word of the Lord.  Zacharias didn't believe because he was "walking by sight".  Mary believed because she was "walking by faith"-- faith in the Word of the Lord through the angel Gabriel. 

When God speaks a word to your heart, what is your response?  Do you doubt?  Do you believe it is impossible?  Are you looking at the natural circumstances and allowing them to dictate what you believe?  Or are you walking by faith?  Are you putting your faith in what God says above what you feel?  Mary received when she heard- not when see saw the evidence of it in her body.  Zacharias believed when he saw the evidence in his wife's body instead of when he heard.  Which one of the two is more likely to be your response?

Have a great day.  When the Lord speaks to us, we can either respond with faith or unbelief. 

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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