Luke 1;57

Luke 1:57 aays, Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.  God's promise to Zacharias was fulfilled and Elisabeth had a son.  We can be certain that God's promises will always be fulfilled.  Verse fifty-eight adds, And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.  Elizabeth's neighbors and cousins heard about how God had shown her mercy and they rejoiced with her.  I believe any birth is a miracle from God and should be celebrated by God's people.  I know that sometimes the circumstances of the child's conception may be terrible, but we as followers of Christ must be there to celebrate the birth and do all that we can for both the mother and child.  Verse fifty-nine states, 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.  After eight days, at the time of the circumcision of the baby, the people gathered together and named the child Zacharias, after his father.  I know there was always a celebration at this time, but didn't know that the people named the child.  Matthew Henry says there was no Biblical direction that said the child had to have the father's name.  It was normal to name the child at the time of circumcision though, since God had given Abram a new name when he was circumcised.  Verse sixty adds, And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.  Elisabeth spoke up and said that he would not be called Zacharias, but John.  This is what God had said his name would be, and Elisabeth was obeying God's direction. If God blesses us today, and we know what He expects of us once we receive that blessing, then we need to follow through on what we know He wants us to do.  Verse sixty-one continues, And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.  Those gathered with her argued with Elisabeth, ssying none of her kindred were named John.  We might find it hard to understand anyone other than a parent naming a child, but evidently there were others involved then.  Verse sixty-two states, And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.  Evidently,  Zacharias still was unable to talk, so the people communicated with him by using signs.  Imagine a man as old as Zacharias finally becoming a father and having been unable to talk about it, all because of his lack of faith.  We should never allow a lack of faith to keep us from being able to share the joy of the blessings God brings to us.  Verse sixty-three adds, And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.  Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote that the baby's name would be John, and the people marvelled.  They did not know what God had told Zacharias to name the baby.  Sometimes, people may not understand what we do as Christians, but if we know that God has influenced us to do something, we need to do it, even if other people do not understand why we are doing it.  Verse sixty-four declares, And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.  After Zacharias did as God had told him to do, he was able to speak once again and he first praised God.  When God does something miraculous in our life, we need praise Him to all those around us.  Verse sixty-five adds, And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.  Those around Zacharias and Elizabeth became afraid when Zacharias could suddenly speak again, and news of what had happened spread abroad and throughout the hill country of Judea.  People today who do not understand what God is doing in a person's life still often talk about it if something miraculous has happened.  Verse sixty-six continues, And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.  The people wondered what manner of child John would be, because they said the hand of God was on him.  I believe the hand of God is on every child, and we as followers of Christ should help them to become what God wants them to be.