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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Luke 1:18-20
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 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. 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.”
Zechariah and Elizabeth had given up any hope of having children. They were well past childbearing years, so when the angel appeared and promised a child, Zechariah found the news hard to believe. Sometimes even news from an angel seems farfetched. Zechariah told the angel that he was too old to have children and boldly asked, “How shall I know this?”
The angel did not mince words. He was quick to share his credentials. He said, “I am Gabriel,” a name that means “mighty man of God.” Now Zechariah was trembling. He realized that the angel written about in the Old Testament book of Daniel was the one speaking to him. Gabriel continued, “I stand in the presence of God,” confirming that the message was from God himself. To prove that the promise was true, Gabriel explained that Zechariah would not be able to speak until the day of the baby’s birth.
Some promises from God are hard to believe. In fact, many—like this one, a baby born to parents past childbearing age—are outside the realm of human explanation. Christmas is filled with such miracles. An angel appearing to Mary. A baby born to a virgin. Joseph’s dream. Angels appearing to shepherds. The star. A warning to the wise men. Would you expect anything less when God took on flesh and lived among us?
Talking to God
Father, thank you for the miracles of Christmas. Thank you for bolstering my belief and strengthening my faith. Thank you for giving me the proof I need for the inevitable challenges ahead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For parents: Have your children write a story about one of the Christmas miracles. Share their story with us at prayer@ronmoore.org.
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