Daily Word Of God
Luke 1:57-66
The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.
Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said, ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name,’ and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called.
The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Zechariah and Elizabeth were doubly blessed by God for bearing a son in their old age. Their stigma of being barren (no blessings) was removed through God’s Mercy and Providence.
- God wanted the child to be named “John” which means, “God is gracious.” In God’s providence John was to prepare people to be receptive to the coming of Christ. What is God’s plan for you?
- When God blesses us, we have also the responsibility to use His blessings to draw others closer to Him especially through our witness of good deeds.