TODAY IS…

a fine day to believe the unbelievable.

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  Luke 1:45 NASB

Unfortunately for mankind, belief does not come readily, or easily, to a great many people. It is a sad fact of life on earth that millions of people will not discover the joy of everlasting life because of a conscious decision to not believe that which they consider to be unbelievable.

God sent the Angel Gabriel to visit first a man, Zechariah, and, later, a woman, Mary. The reception he received was a little different each time.

Zechariah was a priest and both he and his wife, Elizabeth, had devoted their lives to obedience to God. They were childless and were getting on in years, but God sent Gabriel to inform them that Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would have the power of Elijah, would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

Because of their ages, Zechariah, even though he had devoted his life to God and was a priest, did not believe that this would happen. His failure to believe God’s messenger did not change what would happen, but Gabriel told Zechariah, “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe My words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:20 NASB).

When Elizabeth was about six months pregnant, Gabriel visited Mary and informed her that she would bring the long-awaited Messiah into the world, she was certainly surprised that such a thing could happen to a woman who was a virgin, but Gabriel assured her that she had found favor with God and had, indeed, been chosen to be the one who would present the savior sent by God to the world.

“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answers. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.’” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

Obviously Zechariah was convinced that what Gabriel had told him was true as soon as Elizabeth became pregnant, but he remained unable to speak until the child who would prepare people for the arrival of Christ was born.

Mary, on the other hand, believed the unbelievable as soon as she was told.

God has placed within each one of us, the ability to believe that which, at first glance, might be a little difficult for us to accept. Many, many people are fortunate and find that ability early in life. Many others– too many – never find it. Then there are those of us who take a while, but after years of searching finally unlock the place that holds our ability to believe in the unbelievable.

If you know someone who has not quite found that ability yet, encourage them to keep on looking. It is there just waiting to be found, and today is a fine day to help them find it.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson