Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 1:11-25 "THE PROBLEM OF UNBELIEF"
Day 14 – Luke 1
Text: Luke 1:11-25
THE PROBLEM OF UNBELIEF
When Zacharias became aware of the presence of the angel Gabriel he was filled with an appropriate sense of fear in his heart. What was in his heart and mind as he listened to the words of the angel explaining in detail the life and ministry of his yet-to-be-born son, John?
As the angel Gabriel concluded his message from the Lord, Zacharias revealed what seems to be a common problem among human beings! This huge problem seems to have plagued man from the earliest times! It seems so impossible to fully believe in God!
Remember how Sarah struggled with her faith when she learned that God would give her a son? She laughed at the idea. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” was the question that the Lord raised to Sarah!
“At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (Gen. 18:14). She did bear a son, and he was called, appropriately so, “Isaac” (meaning, “laughter”).
The root problem is essentially that of “unbelief.” It is a problem that continues to haunt many believers till today! How can we deal with this deadly problem of unbelief?
DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF UNBELIEF
The angel Gabriel’s way of dealing with unbelief teaches us many things. Let’s make a careful study of how he dealt with this problem.
1. Gabriel firmly reminded Zacharias of who he was, and even more, of whom he represented!
“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings”
Luke 1:19
There is no mistaking the tremendous sense of power and authority behind those words! It was not superiority that Gabriel exhibited! He stood in the very presence of God Himself! He knew the power and authority of God when He declares a word! It will be fulfilled!
Here was a puny human being, and he had just been given a special word from God and he was virtually questioning the veracity of that word! Unbelief must be understood in its proper light! It must not be thought of as a “small sin”. Unbelief dishonours God, and insults Him!
2. To demonstrate that the sin of unbelief is as bad as it sounds, the angel Gabriel meted out disciplinary action against Zacharias. Unbelief must be rebuked. Unbelief must be dealt with severely, or it will severely impede our relationship with God. It could also hurt our life and ministry severely!
The angel Gabriel solemnly declared these words:-
“But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT BELIEVE my words which will be fulfilled in their own time” Luke 1:20
Zacharias would have to deal with the problem of his unbelief for the next nine months. He would have to go over this conversation with the angel Gabriel again and again for the next several months. This is a mild rebuke, but it would serve to bring home the point of his lack of faith in the Lord’s word poignantly!
How could he, who was a priest, a servant of the Lord, and one who stood in that special place of prayer in the Temple of the Lord, have succumbed to unbelief? How could he who must have spoken about having faith in God to others have shown such blatant unbelief when asked to trust the word of the angel Gabriel?
The answers his mind would give to him would teach him deep lessons of faith that would impact his life indelibly and forever. He should have trusted God. How could he have pleased God if he could not find faith in His Word?
HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH YOUR PROBLEM OF PERSONAL UNBELIEF?
There is no need to be harsh with Zacharias. We all struggle with the same problem of unbelief! We speak of faith in the Lord, but we all know what it means to say “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
Let us take positive steps to overcome this problem of unbelief. Let these words speak to your heart…
“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to come short of it. For indeed the Gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it”
Hebrews 4:1-2
As we read the Lord’s Word, let us learn to receive it with faith. It is only when we receive His Word with faith that we will be able to fight unbelief successfully. “So then, faith comes by hearing; and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Let us do everything possible to cultivate our faith in God. Plan to take time to read Hebrews 11, where faith in God is beautifully portrayed. May your heart be stirred as you read, so that you desire strongly to deepen your faith in the Lord!