“And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.” (Luke 1:64-66 KJV).
In context, all these started when Zacharias doubted the good news he received from heaven through the angel Gabriel. When the angel informed him of God’s message, he reacted with doubt saying: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18 NIV). As a result of his skepticism, Gabriel told Zecharias that for doubting he will be unable to speak until these are fulfilled. He was silenced for the entire pregnancy of his wife until the child was born and him being able to affirm naming him John which God told him. His speech is now restored, and he begins to praise God!
Speculation and awe over a newborn is nothing new. Parents, family and friends look down on a crying infant and wondered, "What will this child turn out to be?" Like these crowd in this moment of joy, it’s natural for them to wonder about John. They went beyond the normal wonderment because they had reason to believe he was special. John was conceived in Elizabeth's barren state. She was pregnant right after her husband Zecharias had performed his once-in-a-lifetime role burning incense in the Temple, with his voice taken away by an angel. Then, now this surprising name John for the baby. And, Zecharias' speech instantly restored when the child was named. That's quite an amazing pregnancy and birth. Their amazement came from realizing that "the hand of the Lord was surely upon this child in a special way." God was at work in John to do spectacular things. And just as with John, we need to remember that God is at work, as well, in each and every child, then, now and generations of children coming. From the moment of conception, God is working for something spectacular for everyone who steps into this planet and find His grace by faith in the Son of God.
Let's therefore commit to pray for each child and to bless each one that God puts into our circle of touch. Yes, we are to do our part in the knowledge of being children of God, as the Psalmist declares: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14 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.
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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