Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 ANNUNCIATION TO ZECHARIAH: Perfect Submission

Hebrews 5:1-10

v7,8 - “Son though he was , he learned  obedience from what he suffered and, once  made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him."
 

Have we ever felt that God doesn’t hear our prayers? We need to be sure that we are praying with reverent submission. Jesus’ human life on earth was not a script that he passively followed, it was a life that he chose freely (John 10: 17&18). It was a continuous process of making the will of God the Father his own. Jesus chose to obey and submit himself that led to his suffering and death ensuring eternal salvation to all of us. God responds to his obedient children when they are willing to do only what God wants.
Annunciation to Zechariah also came because of his faithful and fearful submission to the God which made God appoint a forerunner of the Saviour and Redeemer of the entire mankind through the birth of John the Baptist.

Faithful Submission
Zechariah was upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments. Zechariah served the Lord even though he and his wife had one of the biggest disappointments in life. Zechariah prayed for a child for a long time even when he and his wife Elizabeth were well past the age of having children. Scripture tells us that Zechariah, and Elizabeth, were "and they both were very old" (Luke 1:7). God was not answering his prayer but he did not turn against God. His disappointment did not keep him from worship, prayers, sacrifice and offering. He did not become bitter. He kept on serving and loving God. He submitted himself to God faithfully

Fearful Submission
Casting of lots decided who will do various tasks in the temple. Zechariah was chosen to offer incense in the Holy Place. This was a great honour. Many priests served for a lifetime without having this honour.  See the providence of God, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). God wanted Zechariah to burn incense in the Temple. As a practice, fragrant incense were offered to God to make the people realize that their prayers were pleasing to God as the fragrance of the incense was pleasing to their nostrils.  At this most special, holy moment in the life of Zechariah when he was most reverently (fearfully) open to God, the angel of the Lord appeared and Zechariah got terrified which made the angel say, "Do not be afraid" (Luke 1:13).
Jesus was always morally perfect. By obeying and submitting, Jesus demonstrated his perfect submission to us. We also through perfect submissions can wait for great annunciations from God.

PRAYER
God you remembered the promise to reward faithfulness through the annunciation to Zechariah.  God remember this promise and hear our prayers made in faithful and fearful submissions.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Annunciations from God come with perfect submission.

Anil Joseph
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more