On the 7th Day of Christmas –
We are to encourage one another in the way of the Lord.
Luke 1:59-66 “When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.”
Luke 1:59-66 “When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.”
At the customary ceremony for a new baby, Elizabeth and Zechariah celebrated baby John (John the Baptist) becoming part of God’s covenant nation. All the friends and family came to welcome this baby, and put their 2 cents in on what his name should be since Zechariah had been mute throughout the pregnancy. But as Zechariah wrote his name to be John his mouth was opened and his friends and family were in awe. They didn’t just celebrate him there, they spread the news of the child throughout the whole neighborhood, and they stood in amazement and wonder at what this child would be.
When we hear news, either good or bad, we need to be an encouragement to one another. We need to lift our friends and family up because this news is part of God’s plan. It may be easier to take a back seat, no seat, or rumor seat, but then we are trying to squelch the light of Christ.
No matter the situation, no matter the story, if it is good – be happy for one another, if it is bad – try to be an encouragement, if it is sad – let them lay their head on your shoulder; be there for your fellow family in Christ and help them.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
Running 2 Fly 