But
the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard.
Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John.”
Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me
to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”
But
the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring
you this glad news.” Luke 1:13, 18-19 (The Message Bible)
Zachariah, a descendant of Aaron and Moses, was
one of the priests of the temple. He and his wife Elizabeth were quite old and
had never had any children. An angel came to him to tell him he and his wife
would finally conceive a son. Zachariah certainly wanted to believe this, but
then he had a reality check. He opened his mouth and said exactly what was on
his mind. “My wife and I are both so old.”
No one is too old, too young, or too anything
for God. God is able to use anyone of any age, shape, or form. Throughout the
Bible, God used people who didn’t think they were worthy. Remember Moses? He
had a speech impediment. Or how about David? He was a young boy when God called
him to slay the giant. David would go on to be one of the great men of his
time.
God is even able to use us. We may think that
we are too old, or that we don’t have enough money, or that we are not smart
enough or pretty enough. It doesn’t matter to God what our shortcomings are. In
fact, to Him they are not shortcomings at all. He made us the way He wanted us
to be, so when the time is right, He can use us for His work.
(Every Sunday from now until Christmas, I will be sharing an
excerpt from “The Christmas Story in 40 Days”. A friend of mine gave me a
rubber duckie Nativity set to add to my rubber duckie collection. I went a
little crazy taking pictures of these ducks, but hopefully, if you find my
words boring, at least the pictures over the next six weeks will keep you coming
back for more. And if you don’t find my words boring, don’t forget to order your
copy of “The Christmas Story in 40 Days” before the forty days is up.)
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