No one wants to learn the hard way, but sometimes that is just what it takes.
Luke tells the story of Jesus beginning with a series of parallel events: two visits from the same angel, two announcements about God’s renewed work of redemption, two miraculous births, and two dramatically different responses from two very different people. Luke is getting his readers, us, ready to respond as well.
A few weeks ago we began the story of Zechariah. He did not respond to God’s messenger with trust, but instead demanded to be shown a sign, a reason to trust. So God disciplined him by taking away his ability to speak and hear for nine months.
Does God really do stuff like that? Does he really cause that kind of hardship and suffering? How is that loving?
This week we will bring to close the story of Zechariah and hear the sobering, but profoundly hopeful message, that God does indeed bring correcting hardship to those he loves.
Two questions: Do we need to learn the hard way? And if we do, how will we respond when God loves us enough to actually do it?
Prepare to worship and hear from our God this Sunday. Pray for me. I am praying for you.
Pastor David
