ADVENT DAY 5: Dec. 5
Luke 1:57-66
Zechariah and Elizabeth
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. ESV
Named by God
By Marie Smith
Oh, the fun and excitement of naming your child, but there are sometimes certain stressors. Does this sound good? Do I know anyone who has named their child this name? What if my family and friends don’t like the name we chose? This passage reminds us that God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways and challenge our assumptions—just as naming the child “John” broke family tradition and signaled God’s unique purpose for his life. In today’s world, we can also experience moments when God leads us down paths that don’t align with others’ expectations or the norms of our culture. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, we are invited to trust God’s direction even when it defies logic or custom. When we do, our obedience can become a powerful testimony that stirs others’ faith and points to God’s active presence. This story also shows how God’s mercy and faithfulness continue to inspire joy and awe, reminding us that every act of obedience, no matter how small, can reveal the hand of the Lord at work in our lives and communities.
Prayer:
Loving God, throughout my life I have been called different names, some of them helpful and some of them discouraging. Give me courage to name people as you see them especially when what you want to call them goes against what most people see. Give me courage to call myself by the name you have for me. Give me hope to patiently wait for my new forever name that you alone know. In the great and beautiful name of Jesus, Amen.
