I finished up this weeks BSF homework just now and I'm mulling over a few scriptures that I read. I just love when the Lord does that to me! So I've placed them on notecards and will meditate on them over the next few days. But I want some of your thoughts on one set of scriptures in particular. The passage is from Luke 1:13-15. It says:
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and a delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth."
What struck me as odd was that this passage was filled with the joy of a new birth, a long awaited son that Zechariah thought might not ever come. (he was gettin up there ya'll) And then mysteriously the sentence, "he is never to take wine or other fermented drink", was added in. Why warn Zechariah of that? Look at what follows, "and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth". So here are my thoughts, take them for what they're worth. :) I think that God warned Zechariah that John was never to drink wine, because it would inhibit the work that the Holy Spirit would do through John. There are many things in our life that de-rail us from walking the path God has for us. Be it alchohol, drugs, addictions, even gossip. Anything that would take the place of what God wants us to do, could be our "fermented drink". I think God warned for John to not partake in the wine because John had an amazing job to do. John was part of God's plan for the life of Jesus. John's ministry would be instrumental in the carrying out of God's will for Jesus' life. Therefore John could not be inhibited by anything. Basically the boy had to have a clear head in order to do what God wanted him to do. (that's Texas talk ya'll). I like that God got right down to it. Laid it out and said, don't let him do that because he's got ME in him. (emphasis mine) Makes me think of the dumb things I do that I know are not in God's purpose for my life. What "fermented drinks" have I put between myself and following God's direction? Is there something, even one small thing, that I have allowed myself to partake in that would muddy up the communication line from God's lips to my heart?
Lord how I pray that you would show me what keeps me from doing what you have planned for me to do. Show it and remove it, Lord. I don't want anything, big or small, to stand between me and the awesome plan you have for my life. I don't want the "fermented drink, I want You! Help me each day to stand up and make the choice for you and not creature comforts. Take those things I put before myself to stumble on and toss them aside. Whatever cup you have for me, I want to drink it in.
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and a delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth."
What struck me as odd was that this passage was filled with the joy of a new birth, a long awaited son that Zechariah thought might not ever come. (he was gettin up there ya'll) And then mysteriously the sentence, "he is never to take wine or other fermented drink", was added in. Why warn Zechariah of that? Look at what follows, "and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from birth". So here are my thoughts, take them for what they're worth. :) I think that God warned Zechariah that John was never to drink wine, because it would inhibit the work that the Holy Spirit would do through John. There are many things in our life that de-rail us from walking the path God has for us. Be it alchohol, drugs, addictions, even gossip. Anything that would take the place of what God wants us to do, could be our "fermented drink". I think God warned for John to not partake in the wine because John had an amazing job to do. John was part of God's plan for the life of Jesus. John's ministry would be instrumental in the carrying out of God's will for Jesus' life. Therefore John could not be inhibited by anything. Basically the boy had to have a clear head in order to do what God wanted him to do. (that's Texas talk ya'll). I like that God got right down to it. Laid it out and said, don't let him do that because he's got ME in him. (emphasis mine) Makes me think of the dumb things I do that I know are not in God's purpose for my life. What "fermented drinks" have I put between myself and following God's direction? Is there something, even one small thing, that I have allowed myself to partake in that would muddy up the communication line from God's lips to my heart?
Lord how I pray that you would show me what keeps me from doing what you have planned for me to do. Show it and remove it, Lord. I don't want anything, big or small, to stand between me and the awesome plan you have for my life. I don't want the "fermented drink, I want You! Help me each day to stand up and make the choice for you and not creature comforts. Take those things I put before myself to stumble on and toss them aside. Whatever cup you have for me, I want to drink it in.
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1 comments:
I think it would be hard to say that it interfered with the Holy Spirit's work for two reasons. In my mind one would be because that would be limiting the power of the Holy Spirit and two we see Jesus and His disciples drink specifically at the Last Supper, but also other times.
I believe that this is the "Nazarite Vow" Numbers 6:2-4. It was a vow that was made to God and symbolized being set apart, similar to the circumcision of the Jews. There is nothing inherently evil about the foreskin, it's just part of the vow they made to God to be set apart and the same with alcohol
If I understand this passage, it is a vow that John's parents made that doesn't contradict God's Word and should be honored by John, but doesn't make it a blanket vow for everyone. Personally it is what I choose because I am a minister of the Gospel, but I don't think it makes me better than someone who chooses to drink. Do I make any sense?
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