Hosanna Restoration Church

Have you noticed that we have become a society that questions everything? I understand that at times we need to clarify things, but aren’t there just some things we can take at face value and do them. Sadly, even in the church people are taught to doubt the very word of God.

I hear people say, “God does not mind. Go ahead and get mad at Him. He understands.” You know, I am sure He understands, but I don’t believe that He does not care. What business do we have questioning God and getting mad at Him? He has never done anything wrong. I know I don’t like it when my children get mad at me. I still love them, but I don’t reward them. I think it costs us rewards when we do these things with God as well. Just because He loves, understands, and forgives us, does not mean we should decide it is a right thing to do.

Well, we can learn a good lesson the easy way from our friend Zacharias if we are so inclined. To his credit, he did not get angry with God, but He did make the mistake of questioning the validity of the message that the angel delivered to him. Let’s get something straight, God does not need to validate His word. We need to believe it and He will prove it. God does not like doubt and unbelief.

Zacharias allowed himself to listen to natural reasoning rather than responding to the message that God sent him. God could not have been any clearer with the message. First He comforted him. He knew that Zacharias was a little startled so the angel reassured him by telling him not to fear. My version would be, “Settle down Zacharias, everything is okay. God is answering your prayer for a son!” He even told him what to name the boy and went on to tell of the great joy he would bring and all sorts of other great stuff.

This would have been a good place for Zacharias to start shouting and praising and thanking the Angel, but instead Zacharias says, “You have got to be kidding me. Prove it?” Wrong response! At this the angel points out that he is Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and that he was sent to tell him this good news. Since you want proof, you just won’t talk until the news is complete and the baby is born!

Well it might be a blessing for many of us if we could not talk, then we would not be able to vocalize our complaints, doubts, and criticism, but it would be better if we just trained ourselves to over rule our flesh and yield to the Spirit of God. Just think of all the good things Zacharias could have talked about if he could speak. He still had the child, but he missed out on some things. Let’s stop excusing ourselves for things we know we should not do and concentrate on giving God the glory that is due His name.