Faithfulness was Displayed

Scripture: Luke 1:59-60

And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John."

Insights: Elizabeth’s friends and family were getting ready to name the child after his father.  The custom and tradition of the name would have been right in the keeping with such activity of the people.  The pressure on Elizabeth to conform to societal norms would have been incredibly great.  We often overlook this part of the history surrounding the birth of John the Baptist.  She, however, arose to the challenge and answered the people around her, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.”  What a moment of faithful obedience to the Lord.  Remember, she did not see the vision of the angel as Zacharias did.  She is, by faith, believing her husband and the miraculous deeds of God in her pregnancy.  Because of this faith she is bold in her proclamation of God’s command in her life.  The child shall be called John.  Beloved, each and every day we are challenged in the same way.  The Lord continually commands we walk in obedience to His will and His ways.  Because of the spiritual war going on around us, His ways and will are more often than not in contradiction to what our society declares to be normal and acceptable.  I admonish you, children of the King, to humbly walk in obedience with Jesus.  Let His Spirit fill you full.  As you walk in this kind of faithful obedience, He will be brought glory.  Make certain you point people to the reason for your faithful activity.  Let your light shine as Elizabeth let hers.  To God be the glory.

Questions:

1. What is the Lord asking you to do that is hard and possibly goes against conventional wisdom and customs?
2. Will you choose faithfulness or disobedience to the commands of the Father?

Prayer: Father, thank You for speaking to me and revealing Your will.  Grant me the boldness and power to walk obediently with You.  I do not always understand Your ways or Your plans, but I pray You grant me grace to believe You and faithfully obey You.  Amen.