Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: December 22

“And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father … And he [Zacharias] asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all. His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God” ~ Luke 1:59, 63-64

God’s purpose moved on and the child was born to Elisabeth and Zacharias, but when they were about to name the baby after his father, old Zacharias had his chance. [Elisabeth and Zacharias' friends and family wanted to name the child Zacharias after the father.] And he took it. Elisabeth said his name was to be John. But women never had the last word legally in those days. And when they gave Zacharias a writing table, he obeyed God. He wrote “His name is John.”

This must have cost the old couple something. After all, they were not likely to have another child and they must have longed to call this one Zacharias after his father. But both obeyed God’s instructions. The miracle of the child’s birth had convinced them.

I [Eugenia Price, the author] do not think Zacharias obeyed that day at the writing table so that his power of speech would be returned to him. I believe he obeyed because he had become obedient and because he had stopped doubting God.

When peace lays hold of us, we are “loosed.” Set free. God takes care of all the big and little signs that point us along our way. Our part is to obey first, as Mary did. Being perfectly willing to be misunderstood and gossiped about, she obeyed God. And He gave her a lovely sign that He had everything under control for her. When she went to visit her cousin, Elisabeth, instead of reprimand or scorn as she might have received from an older woman, she looked at Mary and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” Mary obeyed and Elisabeth understood.

Zacharias obeyed and his tongue was freed. We can leave all the consequences and results to God. Joyfully.

“My times are in thy hand.”