Be Tender With The Growing

Luke 1:20 (NET)  And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.”

One angel, similar messages to two different people, similar responses by them, but different reactions by the angel. I am referring to the visits of Angel Gabriel to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer and Mary, the earthly mother of our Lord Jesus. When Zechariah asked the angel “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years” (Luke 1:18), he was stricken with dumbness, but the angel was much more endearing and accommodating of Mary’s question about how Jesus would be born since she was still a virgin and not yet married. The angel took the time to explain everything to her, even though she and Zachariah asked similar questions. (Read Luke 1:4-34).

You might be wondering why it played out like that. This is it. Zechariah was a priest. One who we would call a pastor today. He had grown in his work with God and was mature in faith. His experience and knowledge of God should have excluded him from questioning how God would work such a miraculous birth. He was familiar with how God had been dealing with His people, especially the patriarch, Abraham. Mary was young, was not even from the priestly lineage. She might just pass as a young Christian who is still learning about the operation of God. She still had not gotten in-depth knowledge of God and so, there was room for her to ask questions and be educated. No wonder Angel Gabriel took the time to educate her on how the birth process of Jesus was going to be.

God deals with us differently, according to our level. With the mature, He expects to act, speak, and walk accordingly. And He will sometimes reprimand when they act otherwise. But with the growing believer, He will always want to guide, even when they misstep. We should be like God, especially in dealing with Christians that are not yet at our level. Be patient, endearing, loving, accommodating and comforting. In the end, Zechariah talked again after John was born. That’s God; loving and caring. No wonder Job said “though He slays me, yet will I trust in Him…”(Job 13:15).

Go into today knowing that when dealing with a growing Christian, be tender. Come to their level and help them grow.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please give me your heart in dealing with all people. Help me be a fruitful soul winner. Amen.

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