Luke 1:59-64 - Responding to discipline
Scripture:
Luke 1:59-64
59 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.
60 But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John."
61 And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name."
62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.
63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished.
64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.
NASU
Thoughts:
As a reminder, Zacharias had been made mute by the Lord as a confirming sign and discipline for his disbelief of the miraculous pregnancy of his wife in answer to his prayer (verses 11-20).
Here, Zacharias is given an opportunity to do the right thing: to obey the Lord in the naming of their miraculously-given child. The people are discouraging Elizabeth from naming him John. It's unclear how she knew the name the angel had told Zacharias (verse 13), but it's certainly possible that Zacharias had told her..
Zacharias could have grown bitter over those months of silence. He could have grown hard under the discipline of the Lord. His silence could have produced anger, instead of humility and praise inside of him.
But how beautiful is faith, submission, and obedience in a follower of Christ! Zacharias chooses to obey (verse 63), giving the child the name God had chosen, and praising God as the miracle is now complete (verse 64).
Prayer:
Lord, thank You that You equip us to choose as Zacharias did. In our trials we can continue to choose to obey and to walk with You, rather than becoming bitter.
Continue to give me what I need as the trials of life come my way, and even in the times when I need discipline from You. Empower me to be a faithful and worshipful follower of You.
Amen
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