The Back Story/Part 2

​Luke 1:57-80 (NASB) 57  Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58  Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 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. 65  Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66  All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. 67  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- 70  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— 71  Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72  To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73  The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74  To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75  In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. 76  "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." 80  And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.  

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Elizabeth, in answer to her prayers, gave birth to a son.  There was a debate concerning the name of the child.  Those that came to do the circumcision had it in their collective mind to name the baby after his father.  Zacharias, acting on the instructions of the angel Gabriel, insisted on the name of "John."

Before anyone could strongly object, Zacharias began to speak in praise of God.  (v.64)  A number of Bible Scholars view Zacharias' experience as being similar to the Day of Pentecost, when the church was filled with the Holy Spirit.  No doubt, the Holy Spirit "fell" on Zacharias and he began to prophesy over his newly born son.

There will continue to be a debate in the church concerning predestination and free will.  The question will always be raised, "Can we make decisions that alter our destiny, and shape our future?"  Whether you are a stanch believer in free will or hold to a more fatalistic view of the future; your decisions do matter.

Zacharias believed that his son, John, had a God-given purpose.  That John would be the one to prepare the way for the Messiah.  He prophesied that this would be his son's destiny.  

If you are either a parent or a grandparent, what is the destiny of your children and grandchildren?  What insight has God given you concerning their purpose and calling in Christ?  What environment have you created in the home that is pointing them in the right direction?  Please note: If we are not pointing our children and grandchildren to Jesus and the purposes of God, they will generally default to the "other" influences that make up their environment.  

John grew up and became known as John the Baptist.  He became strong in the spirit and fulfilled His God-ordained purpose to become the Prophet that would indeed prepare the way for Jesus.

This is our hope for our children and grandchildren; that they would serve God all the days of their lives; that they would walk in the purposes that God has ordained; that they would accomplish the work that God has prepared for them to do.  As parents and grandparents, it is our job and calling to assist them in connecting to God's destiny for their lives.  (Refer to Deuteronomy 6)​

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Questions to Consider:

1. What measures have I taken to create a "Jesus-Centric" environment in my home? 
2. If you believe that God has a purpose for my children and/or grandchildren, what am I doing to help connect them to that destiny?
3. Do you believe in the concept of making "your" ceiling your children's floor?