I Believe in Miracles
I Believe in Miracles
ZECHARIAH WAS the single priest that could enter the sanctuary. God had chosen him and set him apart from 8,000 other priests. God had a specific assignment and a specific task ordained for Zechariah.
When I was in high school, I wanted a part-time job so I could make a little extra money. I applied at a new burger chain that was opening in town. I was hoping to get a job cleaning, working in the ice cream area—anything but cooking.
After the interview, the owner said, “Congratulations, you’ve got the job! I’m going to put you on the grill.”
The grill. Ugh! That’s the last thing I wanted.
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A week later, on our invitation-only opening night, that’s where I was—flipping burgers. The heat was intense. There were four of us on the grill, and the serving line was right behind us so that people could watch as we cooked the food. Curtis, the guy beside me on the grill, was nervous; he needed the job to pay for college.
To shake off the nervousness and help him focus on cooking, I made a suggestion. “Let’s sing some while we cook.”
“Sing?” he shot back. “Have you lost your mind?”
One of the other guys looked over at me and said, “Sounds fun. What we singin’?”
A few minutes later, the cook crew was singing “My Girl” by the Temptations, much to the delight and applause of those in line. Later that evening, as we were closing up, the owner came over to me. I knew I was in trouble. Instead, he said, “You guys sounded great and the people loved it.” He slapped me on the back and walked off.
My friend, Curtis, came running over. “What did he say?”
“He said the people loved it!” I said while grinning.
Curtis grinned back and began to laugh. “Thanks for getting me
through opening night, man.”
“You bet.” I walked away that night thanking God for putting me on the grill, letting me sing like a fool, and making a new friend. God had put me right where he wanted me. Just like he did for Zechariah.
When Zechariah entered the temple, an angel appeared to give him some astonishing news. The angel told Zechariah that his wife would have a son.
Haven’t we heard this story before?
But Zechariah doubted the word of the angel. He almost objected and asked for a sign (just like Abraham did in Genesis 15:8). Because Zechariah doubted the word from the Lord, he was punished. God turned him deaf and mute. Upon leaving the temple, he couldn’t talk. The people realized something remarkable had happened, but they were unsure what.
Soon, Elizabeth received a visit from Mary, Jesus’s mother. At that moment, Elizabeth’s baby kicked in her womb. And not too much later, Elizabeth gave birth to her baby boy, a miracle before her very eyes.
On the eighth day of circumcision, tradition held that the baby was given a name. Boys were customarily named after their grandfa- ther. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s family gathered together. Elizabeth’s family suggested the baby be named Zechariah, after his dad, but Elizabeth objected. God had already given her the child’s name. She said, “He is to be named John.”
The family argued and looked to Zechariah to settle the argu- ment, but he still couldn’t speak. Someone handed him a writing tablet, and he sketched out the words, “His name is John.” At that moment, his ability to speak returned and he praised God. At the sound of his voice, the neighbors were silenced. They were perplexed and puzzled.
The praises of one following God in Crazy Faith will often silence the crowd around us.
ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH were excited about the birth of their son. Elizabeth especially knew that God had big plans for her son. Her baby would grow up to be John the Baptist, the one to announce the coming of the Messiah. Looking at the story on this side of history, it’s easy to miss out on some of the questions Elizabeth and Zechariah might have been asking themselves in the midst of all this. They had their doubts, and yet God was patient. And God did immeasurably more than they could have thought. Which just goes to show, God’s plans are always better than ours. He knows exactly where we need to be.
Are you looking for a miracle? Do you have Crazy Faith? Are you willing for God to set you apart so that you can live with crazy faith?
Are you willing to let God supply the support you need like he supplied Mary to be the support for Elizabeth? Are you willing to let God be the one that silences the naysayers and you focus on doing what God has called you to do?
Make a promise to God to be set apart for Him.