Love Comes Near: An Advent Bible Study, Dec. 8th Read Luke 1:18-25 Write John 1:16 John 1:16 - "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." "No one ever said Zechariah was perfect. Just faithful. "What answer does the angel give to Zechariah's questioning?" He says, "I am Gabriel and have been sent to bring you this good news. But now because you did not believe my word, you will become mute ... until the day these things occur." ---- "God should have struck him dead or revoked the announcement. There stands Zechariah, in the temple, in the presence of God, and an angel appears before him. Yet, his faith still wavers. "Whether because of doubt, discouragement or delay, in what areas do you lack faith that God will answer your prayers?" My one big worry always seems to be money -- being afraid that Jamie and I will run out of it one day soon, and that we will be unable to live as well as we have been. My prayer is that we have enough money to live on and do okay to the end of our days, but I don't think that will happen if we keep spending money the way we have been. Jamie has even convinced me to increase the amount going out to the AT&T phone company for cell phone usage, convincing me to get her a new I-Pad Air with more memory, to have in addition to the I-Pad Air she already has. This will add $75 to $100 a month to the already large cellular phone bill. I probably should have said "no." But I desire to please Jamie. ---- "At the end of this passage, we learn that Elizabeth remains secluded for the first five months of her pregnancy. Why do you think she did this?" I have no idea. Really no clue. "Sometimes, we rush to friends and family to share good news, or to share in sorrows, and neglect rushing to our knees. For whatever reasons Elizabeth kept her pregnancy quiet, we can appreciate her example of making worship a prio- rity during the greatest surprise and joy of her life." ----- "Love Comes Near "We serve a God who gives multiple chances. Getting it right the first time isn't always required. "Zechariah was faithful, but like you and me, he was human. His punishment for his faltering faith at a critical moment was a rebuke from God, but it was a gracious rebuke. "I'd say every rebuke from God could be categorized as gracious, but can you recall a particularly gracious rebuke in your life? How did it influence your walk with God?" I remember once walking on the M-K-T trail in Columbia, MO, talking to God and asking Him whether or not what I was ardently desiring at that moment could come to pass. I remember feeling that He blessed me at that moment with a wonderful feeling, a resounding "Yes," to that question. But I remember also hearing very quietly after that feeling a sense that God was saying to me, "But you have to do your part. I cannot do it all for you." If that was a rebuke at all, it was a very gentle rebuke. I stopped walking at that point, awash in wonder. ----- "How do you imagine God used this season of silence in Zechariah's life?" As time for Zechariah to contemplate the wonders of God and to let Zechariah grow in his faith. ----- "Read Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:11 "How do discipline and love go hand in hand?" Discipline is an act of correction, of helpfulness, perhaps sternly, perhaps lovingly reproving a person of something bad they are doing now so that the person may learn from it and grow not to make mistakes in his or her later life. It is an act of caring, and act of love to the person receiving that discipline. If the parent or person who was doing the discipline didn't care, that person wouldn't trouble himself/herself to do it.