Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
34″How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
We see in our text two different conversations resulting in a request to explain.
To explain is to:
- Make plain and comprehensible
- Give details; define scope and structure
- Serve as a reason, cause or justification of
Have you ever been in a situation that demanded you defend or exonerate yourself? What do you say? Where do you start? How will you convey it? Is it going to make sense?
Let me give you a few examples:
- How does Abraham explain that God has asked him to sacrifice his one and only son of promise?
- How does Israel explain that God delivered them from Egypt only to lead them to a dead end – the red sea?
- How does Mary explain she’s pregnant although she’s never been with a man?
- How does Jesus explain that He – The Messiah will die, be buried and be raised in three days?
How can I be sure of this? How could this be? Help me understand – Explain! There are some things (enigmas, mysteries, and whodunits) in life that you may never be able to explain although there is an answer somewhere.
Like Mary, you are blessed and highly favoured plus flavoured but on death row. You are pregnant with destiny and carry greatness yet there is a contention for your very life and destiny. It seems like you are that one clay The Potter is endlessly working on the wheel. It is evident you are appointed and anointed by God but yet you have nothing tangible to show for it. Break it down – explain.
The prophet Isaiah said:
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
Paul echoed same thoughts when he wrote:The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That’s why we have this Scripture text:
No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—What God has arranged for those who love him.1 Corinthians 2:8b -9
And I heard God say:
I am acting on your behalf: I am your representative – I am for you!
I am arranging things: I am your organizer – I will fix it!
So Friend, be confident it’ll work out for your good – anyway – anyhow!
Therefore, let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] Colossians 3:15, John 14:27
Shalom.