‘For no word from God will ever fail.’ Luke 1:37 NIV
‘For no promise of God can fail to be fulfilled.’ PHPS
For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment. AMPC
The last word spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary at his visitation to announce the coming birth of the baby Jesus. Luke is the only Gospel writer to mention the angelic visitations to Zechariah the priest and then to Mary.
Angelic visitations were central to announcing the coming of the Messiah and also his herald, John the Baptist. We should expect the Lord to release the angelic once again as His return draws closer. Gabriel was the messenger to both individuals mentioned in Luke’s Gospel, but his reception was quite different in the two visits.
Zechariah, the elderly priest, was chosen by lot to minister before God and burn incense in the Temple. He was alone in the Temple, carrying out his duties and Gabriel appeared before him and he was, ‘startled and gripped by fear’. There was a big difference between carrying out the duties of a priest and directly encountering an archangel.
‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 HE WILL BE A JOY AND DELIGHT TO YOU, AND MANY WILL REJOICE BECAUSE OF HIS BIRTH, 15 FOR HE WILL BE GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 HE WILL BRING BACK MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE PARENTS TO THE CHILDREN AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WISDOM OF THE RIGHTEOUS – TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.’ Luke 1
Zechariah balked at Gabriel’s message, he couldn’t take it in! Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, finished the message and told Zechariah he wouldn’t speak again until his son John was born. Could it be today that we live so far below our rights as Children of God, that we too will hesitate or step away from all that God has planned before the Lord’s return.
Mary was an innocent young woman but she received what was spoken to her in humility and without questioning.
38 ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘MAY YOUR WORD TO ME BE FULFILLED.’ Then the angel left her. Luke 1
All Zechariah’s experience as a priest didn’t prepare him for that life changing encounter. Much of what we have experienced in our own lives to date may hinder all that God has planned for the future. Mary had very limited life experience but was able to embrace the future laid out for her. May we be enabled to trust God for the new things He has for us and walk in them.
God bless and keep you today.