Zacharias' Lesson

"And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, 'His name is John.' And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God."

Luke 1:62-63

Zacharias had failed to believe God when He promised him a son, and God chastised Zacharias for his unbelief by making him mute for nine months. Then God gave Zacharias a second chance and this time Zacharias responded in faith. We can learn some things from Zacharias' experience. First, God wants us to believe Him. If we don't, out of His Fatherly love He may discipline us. Second, we serve a God of grace. He gives us second chances. Third, Zacharias did not become embittered by God's chastisement, but learned from it and broke into praise of the Lord when it ended. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11)