So I Fix My Eyes
  • Blog
    • Here I Am to Worship
    • Father to the Fatherless
    • Who is God? >
      • Who is God Series
  • Bible Studies
    • Exodus
    • Ruth
    • Hosea
    • John 1-6
    • John 7-21
    • I Corinthians
    • II Corinthians
    • Philippians
    • Colossians
    • II Timothy
  • Recommended Reads
    • Book Reviews
  • Girls Corner
    • Engaged to a Heavenly Bridegroom
    • All for Him Only
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Here I Am to Worship
    • Father to the Fatherless
    • Who is God? >
      • Who is God Series
  • Bible Studies
    • Exodus
    • Ruth
    • Hosea
    • John 1-6
    • John 7-21
    • I Corinthians
    • II Corinthians
    • Philippians
    • Colossians
    • II Timothy
  • Recommended Reads
    • Book Reviews
  • Girls Corner
    • Engaged to a Heavenly Bridegroom
    • All for Him Only
  • About
  • Contact

Random musings, meditations, devotionals, and thoughts as we are transformed more and more

Into His Image

"I Am Gabriel"

12/13/2017

 
Picture
​As we gear up for Christmas, let’s cast our minds back to where it all began.  Over a year before the scene in the stable, God in His heavenly throne room summoned an angel and gave him a special assignment.
Go to earth.  Appear to one priest by the name of Zechariah who will be offering incense in the Holy Place of the temple in Jerusalem.  Tell him that he will father a man of greatness who will do mighty things for Me.​
​And the angel went.  He appeared to Zechariah at the appropriate hour and delivered his God-given message. 
 
But then what happened?  Zechariah doubted the holy message.  He questions the possibility and probability of a miracle.  And the angel lost his patience.  He declared to Zechariah,
“I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
~Luke 1:19-20
​Picture the scene.  In the Holy Place, where Zechariah was not expecting to see or meet anyone, there appears an angel.  That alone would be frightening.  Gabriel obviously had an intimidating appearance, for the first thing he tells Zechariah is “Do not be afraid.”  But then Zechariah questioned the God-given message, and Gabriel boldly declares, “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God.”  In other words, “Who are you to question my words?!” 
 
I wonder if angels ever get frustrated by us mere mortals.  Gabriel obviously got exasperated with Zechariah.  One moment the guy fears and trembles before him and then the next he questions the divine message.  How frustrating!  I imagine that Gabriel declared his identity and purpose rather forcefully and with a hint of just anger.  But whether Gabriel stated his case with additional authority and outrage or not, I’m sure Zechariah was quaking in his shoes by the time Gabriel was done speaking.  For an angel, frightening enough when coming in peace, would be terrifying when riled.
 
And Gabriel was riled.  He reveals his position in heaven, his divine appointment, and his awesome power in his declaration to Zechariah. 
 
I wonder if God told Gabriel to make Zechariah mute should he not believe the message?  Or was it all Gabriel’s idea?  The judgment of silence seems to come from nowhere.  Without warning or preamble, Gabriel declared that since Zechariah didn’t believe, he would remain mute until the child of promise was born.  We know the end of the story and that after John’s birth Zechariah regains his speech, but Zechariah didn’t know that.  As far as he knew, he could remain mute indefinitely for he did not believe the angel’s message. 
 
Next week we’ll look at the reasons why Zechariah received such a harsh punishment, but in the meantime, let’s ponder this thought.
 
Gabriel was awesome and terrifying in his splendor, majesty, and power.  However, he was just the messenger.  And even though he sentenced Zechariah to silence, his power was given to him by One much more powerful.  And Gabriel knew that.  Notice how he declares his authority.  “I am Gabriel; I stand in the presence of God; I have been sent by God.”  So even though Gabriel was a powerful, fearsome angel by his own right, he found his identity and purpose in God.  How much more ought we to base our identity in our Creator, Savior, and good Father.  For our position in Christ is much more powerful than the one Gabriel claims. 
 
So will your declaration be like that of Gabriel, powerful and based off of your position and authority in Christ?  I want mine to be.
 
“I am Kristin, a daughter of the Almighty, Most High God, an ambassador of Jesus Christ.”
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    Series:

    Here I Am to Worship
    Adoption/Orphan Care
    Who is God?

    Follow @soifixmyeyes


    Receive Posts via Email

    * indicates required
    Where would you like to receive posts from?

    ​Popular Posts:

    Picture
    Remembering 
    ​Ground Zero

    Today is a day of remembrance and reflection for our country.  A time to remember lives lost, sacrifices made, and a war begun.   Read more
    Picture
    Guest Post ~ When Stories Collide
    Stories are strange things. Because it isn't the big, important people who are usually the main characters; it's not the sunny, lovely days that move the story along. It's the little people who become the heroes. It's the disasters that cause the quest.  Read more
    Picture
    ​The Unrecognized "Royal" Couple
    Our world is obsessed with individuals and couples of fame and fortune, super stars and royals; however, there was one royal couple that the world completely missed.  
    Read more

    Show Hope


    Samaritan's Purse


    Categories

    All
    About
    Adoption
    Advent
    America
    Analogy
    Announcement
    Articles
    Bible Study
    Blogiversary
    Book Announcement
    Brevity Of LIfe
    Calvary
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Death
    Deborah
    Easter
    Eternity
    Faith
    Fathers
    Fear
    For Girls
    Give Away
    Give-away
    Giving
    God
    God Came Down
    Godliness
    Guest Post
    Helping Others
    Holidays
    Hope
    Jeremiah
    Jesus
    Joy
    Leadership
    Life
    Love
    Memorial Day
    Motherhood
    Mothers
    New Year
    Orphan Care
    Peace
    Prayer
    Question
    Reflections
    Remembrance
    Road To Christmas
    Singleness
    Suffering
    Thankfulness
    Thanksgiving
    Trials
    Trust
    Website Updates
    Worship


    Archives

    December 2024
    November 2024
    December 2022
    September 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    RSS Feed

Home

Blog

Here I Am to Worship

Father to the Fatherless

​Who is God? Study

Bible Studies

Recommended Reads

Book Reviews

Girls Corner

Engaged to a
​Heavenly Bridegroom

All for Him Only

About

Contact

...not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  
​For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Copyright © 2016-2025 So I Fix My Eyes
Photos from verchmarco (CC BY 2.0), verchmarco