Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Birth of John the Baptist
Luke 1: 57-66

Rev. Stalin Thomas,
Vicar
Phoenix MTC, AZ

"What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

God's blessing was resting abundantly on Zachariah and Elizabeth. He sent them a baby boy, just as He promised (V13) and they named him “John” just as God instructed. The Jews looked on children as a gift from God and a heritage from the Lord (Ps:127:3-5) and rightly so, for they are.  Israel would not follow the practices of their pagan neighbours by aborting their children  The greatest forces in the world  are not the earth quakes and the thunderbolts said Dr. Sullivan. The  greatest forces in the world are babies. Traditionally a baby boy would be named  after his father or someone else in the family so the relatives and  neighbours were shocked when Elizabeth insisted on the name  John. Zachariah wrote “ His name is John” on the tablet  and that settled it. Immediately God opened the old  priests mouth and he sang  a hymn that gives us four beautiful pictures of what the coming of Jesus Christ to earth really means.

The name John means "Jehovah is Gracious". To understand the fullness of the name we have to revisit the words of Gabriel V14 -15. The name John was given by the angel. And we can see in last verse of the chapter as “ The child grew and became strong in spirit”(v.80).
Let us cry mightily to God for His great blessing to be upon our children, that the Lord's hand be with them and they become strong in spirit

PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, thank You for being gracious to us. You sent Your only begotten son to save us from our sins. Help us to lead a life according to Your will. Make our children strong in spirit. Help them to grow in Your faith. We pray in the name of Lord Jesus. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; Matthew 11:11a

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