Read Luke 1:13-25.
We have seen so many instances of promises made and not kept these days. However, God made promises of redemption for mankind even from the first few chapters of Genesis. The writer Luke began his gospel account showing how God used an ordinary man to begin the ultimate fulfillment of His redemptive plan. Zechariah the priest was doing his duty in the Temple when he was visited by the angel Gabriel. “You prayers have been answered,” he said. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had been praying for a long time for a child and now God would answer their plea. This child would be a prophet who would lead many in Israel back to the Lord and herald the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Zechariah’s response to this good news was to express doubt, therefore, he was struck mute until the child was named.
Why do we sometimes express doubt in our faith? For me, it seems, at first glance, there are circumstances which are beyond my control that come one right after the other. When this happens, we can lose focus on who God is and what He had done in the past. But, doubt can lead to greater faith if the focus of doubt moves toward God and His promises and not the circumstances. God’s promises are not “wish for” or “hope for” ideas. God certainly has the power to do what He promises to do. After all, He did created the universe and gave a childless couple a child.
God is at work in your life, first in redemption, and then in moving in your life so that you will draw closer to Him and follow Him. Are you looking for His promises or are you looking at circumstances?
Mark Riser - Apologist 