What? or Whatever.

 “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this?’”   Luke 1:18

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered.”    Luke 1:38

 

Gabriel, God’s number one messenger angel, had been busy. 

“Go to earth and tell Zechariah I’m giving him a son.” 

“Zechariah the priest?  The old guy with the not-so-young wife?”

 “The very one. He’s been praying for many years, and it’s finally time.”

 

 So Gabriel zipped or flew or whatever angels do, down from God’s presence to Zechariah.

 “God has heard your prayers, Zechariah. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son.”

 “What?!? No way! How can I be sure?”

 

Gabriel was soon sent to earth again. 

“Go to Nazareth and tell Mary I’m giving her a son, my Son.” 

“Mary?  The young girl engaged to the carpenter guy Joseph?” 

“The very one.  The people have been waiting for many years, and it’s finally time.” 

 

 So Gabriel zipped or flew or whatever angels do, down from God’s presence to Mary.

 “Greetings, God’s special one.  You’re going to have a son – God’s Son.”

“I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said.”

 

Two similar messages.  Two different responses. 

Zechariah’s reaction was a skeptical “What?!?”  Mary’s was a surrendered “Whatever.”

 

Our doubt doesn’t alter God’s design.  He is sovereign, and His plans will come to pass. Even though Zechariah didn’t believe, Elizabeth still gave birth to John the Baptist, but Zechariah spent nine months listening to his wife telling everyone everything without being able to say anything!

 

And God planted the Eternal One into the womb of an ordinary teenager. “Nothing is impossible with God,” Gabriel told the marveling Mary, and that truth will never change.  God works His ways to accomplish His will, and amazingly, He invites us to join in.  He usually doesn’t send angels to tell us our part in His plan, but He speaks just as loudly through Scripture, circumstances, and His Spirit. Our response is up to us.  Will we answer with Zechariah’s halting “What?!?” or with Mary’s humble “Whatever.”  This Christmas let’s not miss out on what God is doing because of our doubting.

 

Trust His Word.  Trust His ways.  Trust His heart. 

He will do more than you can ask or imagine.