Week 2 Christmas Challenge, Liminal SpaceSample

We’ve a new reading for today, the following section in Luke 1 (CSB): “19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.” ”

There are several points in this text related to our liminal space focus, as well as some interesting observations to make. Today we’ll look at one of each:

Observation: Gabriel seems a little offended by Zechariah’s lack of faith. I guess, after all, you might be, too, if you get to enjoy the unbroken, unspoken manifest intimate presence of God ALL THE TIME, but are then interrupted to have to go tell an old priest some great news that is received poorly. Might that be a bit like you enjoying your favorite Christmas tradition (fill in your own particular blank here) and then having to cut it short to shovel the driveway / chop wood for the fire / jump a battery that went dead / otherwise do an inconvenient ‘good turn’ to somebody? 

Focus: Zechariah had prayed for this news. And yet he couldn’t believe it when the prayer was answered. It’s almost as if he figured he’d run out of time. It was too late. They were too old. And from a human perspective, he was right. He was, however, unaware of God’s agenda and God’s timing. 

Have you ever been able to relate to Zechariah on this point? Maybe you strongly desired something from God. And for whatever reason—timing, bad decision, victim of some sin, circumstances out of your control—the window of opportunity passed. It was no longer possible. And our ‘pattern of thinking’ (from Day 3) rendered it impossible for God to answer in the affirmative. And that killed faith. 

But look, that lack of faith didn’t flummox God. Look at the love God exercised. Elizabeth confesses (v25): “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.” Your ‘pattern of thinking’ need not limit God either from exercising His love in and through your life.