Don't Laugh
Scripture Reading — Luke 1:18-20
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?”
Luke 1:18
Can you blame Zechariah for being skeptical? I can’t. I think back to two people who lived centuries before Zechariah: 99-year-old Abraham and his 89-year-old wife, Sarah. When they, in their old age, heard God’s promise of a son, they laughed (Genesis 17:17; 18:12)!
Scripture is full of skeptics that God uses in spite of their doubts. Moses is one. He gave all kinds of excuses for not going back to Egypt to lead God’s people out of slavery (see Exodus 3-4). But God used him anyway.
Then there’s Gideon, the fleece-laying skeptic, and king David, the counter-of-fighting-men skeptic (see Judges 6; 1 Chronicles 21). At times, the whole nation of Israel was a collection of skeptics! God used them too.
Does this mean that God loves skepticism? No. It means he loves all people. God loves working through people and making believers out of them.
Is there a promise in your life that you have trouble believing? Maybe it’s God’s promise to provide for you. Maybe it’s God’s claim that his ways are higher than your ways. Maybe it’s the baptism promise that he made to your child who, as an adult, is now wandering away from him. Maybe it’s the promise that the well of his grace is deeper than the well of your sin.
Don’t laugh. Don’t be skeptical. God is faithful. He can make a believer out of you too.
Lord, sometimes we use skepticism as a crutch so that we don’t have to do the work of believing. Please give us muscular faith today and clear, confirming sight! Amen.
About the author — David Den Haan
Pastor Dave Den Haan has served at Fairway Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan, since 1999. Previously he served a church in Minnesota. Dave and his wife, Connie, have three children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!