Luke 1-3 Zacharias and Elisabeth

Luke 1: starts out with the story of Zacharias and Elisabeth who had no child "because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years."  An Angel appeared to Zacharias in the Temple and says,

"Thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

The Angel tells him many great things about this special child whose calling it is to" make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

I am pretty sure Zacharias's mind was whirling at what he saw and heard.  Then he questions..."Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."  

Something we can all learn from this is the manner of questions we present to the Lord!   If I read correctly, Zacharias' question was doubting that this could happen because they were way beyond the time of having children.  

This same angel comes to Mary and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women"...."Thou shalt conceive in they womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus...and he shall be called the Son of the Highest"...

I am sure the spirit was so strongly testifying to her the things the Angel said were true. Her question to the Angel was different.... "Then said Mary unto the Angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"  She wanted to understand how, but never doubting!  

Mary responds in faith:  "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

I learned that if an angel comes with a message from the Lord, listen and believe!

If a message comes from the Lord through a Prophet of God, LISTEN AND BELIEVE! 

If a calling comes from the Lord through a Bishop, listen, believe and serve!

Respond in Faith never doubting those things the Lord might ask of each of us.