“On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”” (Luke 1:59-60 NIV).
The miraculous birth of John the Baptist which the angel Gabriel announced to the doubting Zacharias finally came. Now, the time to circumcise as the law prescribed needs to be performed and the child has to be named. And, it is amazing that Elizabeth named the child John, the name that the angel Gabriel instructed Zacharias to give. There’s no mention how she got this name as there were none in their family having such a name. Zacharias unable to speak not having the opportunity to share this name to her. They were all expecting to name him after his dad as the norms giving honor to the father. This gives awe to them and us now, how God puts things together out of the ordinary to accomplish His plan for our good in the extraordinary. Certainly like Elizabeth, with the unction of the Holy Spirit, we just have to believe and rest in His grace.
For us too, especially in this post resurrection dispensation of God’s grace, we must not allow the good or sometimes with other motives the intent of those around us to dictate what name(s) to call us. We are named by God according to our identity in Christ Jesus by faith in Him. We don’t abide by the labels the world throw at us or even people close to us. We abide in the knowledge that we are God‘s own, purchased by the blood of Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:9) who John the Baptist, Elizabeth’s son heralded thirty plus years later. Our identity is in Christ Jesus. Scriptures attest: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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