What would you do if you met an angel? Would
you say hello? Would you believe it really was an angel? I imagine
that for most of us we would be like Zechariah, not believing,
questioning. For Zechariah, God was someone to be obeyed - he and
Elizabeth were 'upright in the sight of God'. I don’t suppose he ever
imagined that God would speak to him directly or have a specific plan for him
and his wife - a plan that seemed impossible. But God had other
ideas.. God ran counter-culturally to the human understanding and nature
of God at the time and showed Zechariah, through the words of the angel
Gabriel, that God had a specific role and purpose for Zechariah; to be the
father of the great prophet John the Baptist.
God has a specific role and purpose in mind for all
of us. Zechariah was struck dumb with disbelief at the idea of it.
Perhaps we are not struck dumb but we can be dismissive of any sense of a
calling or God-given purpose, believing we are not good enough, smart enough,
holy enough. Yet throughout the history of the Bible, and indeed, the
history of humanity, God has used the most unusual people to carry out His will
on earth. Perhaps the most unusual was that little baby in a manger, the
least of humanity, who became the saviour of the world. Christ had a
purpose - to live and teach among us as both God and man, dying as a sacrifice
for us on the cross and reconciling us to God. None of us can have such a
purpose - but perhaps God is speaking to you this advent about some purpose in
your life? Perhaps you can be inspired to search for what God is calling
you to as we celebrate advent and prepare for the coming of Christ.
Heather
Roy
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