...what's in a name...

“67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit

and spoke this prophecy:

68 ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,    

for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

71 that we would be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,    

and has remembered his holy covenant,

73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,    

to grant us 74 that we, being rescued

from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;    

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,    

to guide our feet into the way of peace’” Luke 1:67-79.

Imagine being Zechariah, silenced by the Lord since the news that your baby is on the way. Nobody knows what’s going on! What is God doing with me? And then the moment arrives. He is born and everyone is wondering, “What’s the baby’s name?” Everybody assumes he’ll have your name, Zechariah. So you begin to write something down: His name is John.

But there is no time, because suddenly you can speak again — God has given back your tongue. And, what comes out of your mouth is a stream of praise. You find yourself caught up in it. All the old promises have come true, and this little baby is going to walk in front of everyone to tell people to get ready! God promised David a son, and Abraham a great family, through which He would rescue His people and the whole world – and that is exactly what is happening at last! And this newly named boy, John, will be in the middle of it.

And all you hear in your heart is the voice of God telling you, “I am doing a new thing!”

So, today, take time and pray:

Lord, where do I fit into this new picture?

What have You prepared for me to do in my life?

Where can I bring hope to others in my life,

and daylight into the darkness of our world?

How can I be used by You as a faithful follower?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me a sinner.