Luke 1
Scripture
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?
Observation
The visits from the angel to Zechariah and Mary have many similarities.
Both were afraid.
Both were told to not be afraid.
Both were told about the birth of a child that would take place.
Both were given several details about the circumstances and plans for those children that would be born.
Both also asked a simple question.
But the angel had a striking difference in his response to their question.
For Zechariah, he was muted until everything happened.
For Mary, she was given much more explanation of what was to come.
Apllication
Questioning God won’t stop His will from coming about.
What God wants to happen will happen regardless of what questions are asked.
But my experience with God can be impacted by my questions and what’s in my heart can be revealed by my questions.
Zechariah asked, “How shall I know?”
He puts himself in the center of the action.
He wants knowledge for himself.
Mary asked, “How will this be?”
Mary does not question that this will “be”.
This will happen.
She just doesn’t know how.
She doesn’t question God.
Her only question is really with herself, she is a virgin.
Mary’s question still seems rooted in Faith in God.
God will bring it about.
She just doesn’t know the “how” of it.
Are my questions of God rooted in wanting something for myself?
“How will I know?”
Or are they rooted in faith in God?
“How will God do this?”
God, you’re will WILL happen, I’m just not sure how.
Use me as YOU will!
Prayer
God, thank you for faith.
May my questions always be rooted in faith and not wanting something for myself.
Help me Holy Spirit in this
In Jesus name
Amen