August 19, 2010

Luke 1:59-64 “And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and the called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, 'Not so; but he shall be called John.' And they said unto her, 'There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.' And they made signs to his father, how that he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote saying, 'His name is John.' And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.”


Here we have the parents of John the Baptist, named so because of the many baptisms he performed during his ministry. His father, Zacharias, was “well stricken in years,” (Luke 1:18), as was his mother, Elisabeth. The big difference is this, Elisabeth learned she would be given a child when she became pregnant, and Zacharias was told by the angel Gabriel that he would be a dad, even at his age.

Then, instead of doubting and questioning God, Elisabeth “hid herself,” I believe, to give her body all the rest and care it needed to bring God's gift to fruition. However, when Zacharias was in the temple, having just learned that God would bless him with a son, said, “Me? How can that happen, We're too old!” He became unable to speak, and would remain so until the child was born.

How hard it is to simply accept the blessings God has for us! How often do we bring ourselves ailments and anomalies, even from a micro-second of doubt!

Photo courtesy of NASA

Do you have a Prayer need?