It seems simple enough, live a good life, serve the Lord as you were called, and things would be simple. Well that was what Zachariah must have been thinking when he entered the Holy of Holies that day. Not so much. There stood Gabriel, God’s messenger waiting for him. The message was a great message–You guys are going to have a baby. Not just any baby–the Hearld for the coming of the Lord. Oh, and by the way, name Him John! Zachariah was in shock. He asked a question that seemed fair enough, “How can I be sure?” Gabriel responded–“I am Gabriel, I stand in God’s presence He sent me to give you a message and you want me to give you some proof?” Gabriel shut Zachariah’s mouth until John was born.
What a great start to a great account. God had this planned from the beginning. He knew the players and the pieces. Nothing in what was to come was left to chance. The cool thing is that same God knows us as well. He is never surprised by our lives. He is not always pleased with the choices we make, but he is never caught off guard. That is why we can be confident to seek him and ask him for life, guidance, and protection each day. He is God. He commands angels and He loves us. We need to trust and follow Him each day knowing He has a plan for our lives–Just like John the Baptist.
God Bless You
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
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.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
Walking With God 