Truth #132 - To whom much is given much is requried - Luke1-2

Luke 1:20
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.”

The story of the Angel of the Lord coming to the Priest Zechariah to tell him his wife would give birth to John the Baptist is a great story with some great truth.   One main truth: "To whom much is given, much is required."  Zechariah was the priest inside the holy of holies.  What did he expect to happen?  A priest typically only did this one time in his life.   He was not expecting or excited for something special to happen.   So, the sign he looked for would be punishment for his unbelief.  Instead of expecting God to speak to him or to instruct him, he was shocked, surprised and, regretfully, in disbelief.   Because of his unbelief, God took away his speech for the entire time of his wife's pregnancy ... until he demonstrated faith again, via obedience.   However, notice how the same Spirt treated young Mary when she was told she would become pregnant with Jesus, without relationships with a man.

Luke 1:34
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

When Mary responds in this manner the Spirit of God goes on to give her more explanation.   To whom little is given, little is required.  We often worry in our lives about "how much" faith we should have or can have or should have.  We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).   Mary's faith had to grow, because of her youth and what she would have been given up to this point.   Zechariah's faith should have already had some depth because of all the teaching and exposure to God he has already had.  He WAS the high priest.   His teaching and learning about God should have produced an immeasurable faith.   Faith comes from hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17).   As we read God's Word we should be building our faith.  As we immerse ourselves in God's Word we have faith built and established.  Mary had less exposure to God's Word than Zechariah because of her youth and position in Israel as a women.   Today, these limits may not even have an impact.  Youth and old alike have so much access to God's Word.  Man and women have access to God's Word today like never before in history.  Our faith is only limited to our belief in God's Word.  As we are exposed to God's Word and believe God's Word, God expects us to grow and trust Him for greater things in our lives.