Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Luke 1:5-20
T. A. Mathew
Trinity MTC, Houston
“Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking “what then is this child going to be? For the Lord’s hand was with him.” (Luke 1:66)
God promised His people in the book of Malachi that He would send a messenger. “See I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.” (Malachi 3:1). After four hundred years of silence, He would send a messenger, a forerunner, who would prepare the way for the Savior. Zechariah’s son would be that promised messenger. God sent His angel to Zechariah, while he was serving in the temple in Jerusalem. The angel told Zechariah that God will give him and his barren old wife Elizabeth a son, who would be the forerunner to the Savior. Zechariah doubted God’s promise that God will give him and Elizabeth a son in their old age. So the angel struck Zechariah with muteness and told him that he would not be able to speak until the day that these things take place. So for nine long months Zechariah was unable to speak to anyone. Zechariah went home after his service at the temple in Jerusalem. His wife Elizabeth conceived a child. When she was in her sixth month of pregnancy, her relative Mary came to visit her. Mary was pregnant with Jesus by this time. Both boys were given to their mothers by the promise of God.
Zechariah did not find his voice until he named his son John. By calling him John, Zechariah showed that he truly believed what the angel had said. By naming him John, Zechariah proved his faith in God’s promise. Zechariah doubted God’s promise. So God disciplined him. God disciplined Zechariah so that he would come to trust Him. We need to remember that God disciplines those whom He loves. When we doubt God’s word, He may sometimes bring difficulty, suffering and hardship into our lives to teach us to trust Him fully and completely. John was born to point people to the arrival of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your care and promise in our life. Just like Zechariah, prepare us to go to church and hear Your voice while we worship You. Let us not doubt Your promises and let our families be loving and caring families in our community. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“REMEMBERING GOD’S PROMISES, DESTROYS DOUBT.”

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