Day 7: Don’t doubt just because you can’t see - Luke 1 vs 5-13

5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.” Luke 1 vs 5-13, New Living Translation

Many people don’t believe in God or Jesus because they say they have never seen Him, or seen an angel or a miracle, or because God has not answered their prayers. But these things do not mean God does not exist!

What was Zechariah’s reaction when he actually saw an angel (vs 12)? Do you think he had ever seen an angel before in his life?

From a reading like this, do you think we should expect to see angels every day?

And what about ‘answered prayers’? Was Zechariah a young man (vs 7)? So for many years he had been praying to God. What had he been praying for over the years (vs 13)?

For many years it must have seemed to Zechariah that God “wasn’t hearing his prayers”. Yet did that make him stop following God’s ways (vs 6)?

Do you think he and his wife were sometimes sad because of what we are told in vs 7? What can this passage teach you today about trusting in God and having faith?

Many readers will have heard of Jesus’ disciple called Thomas. Because he was not in the room when the risen Jesus had appeared to the disciples he did not want to believe that Jesus was alive from the dead. So Jesus appeared again when Thomas was there and invited Thomas to feel the place where Jesus had been nailed and speared on the cross. Even without touching Jesus Thomas believed. And Jesus said to Thomas: “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29)

You may have never seen an angel or a miracle, and God may not have answered a prayer you have been praying, but that does not mean that God isn’t real!

Worship Him today by faith because He cares for you!