God's Choice

It was John. And Zechariah. And Elizabeth. And you & me.

From the moment of his miraculous conception, John the Baptist’s life was marked by God’s intention. I don’t know if such foreordination is the rule or an exception. But John’s story resonates with that well-known verse from Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” If this kind of divine destiny-making is indeed universal, it sure does make precious each and every child.

Zechariah and Elizabeth, both advanced in age and previously barren, experienced a joy they could not have imagined. At the moment of birth, now knowing after waiting the better part of a year for it to happen - seeing it come to fruition - John was so determined to give the right name.

Yet the joy is not for them alone. John’s birth, like Jeremiah’s calling, carries a purpose far beyond himself: to prepare the way for the messiah.

When Zechariah confirms the child’s name—“John,” meaning the Lord is gracious—the people are amazed. Would God choose an ordinary family? Why would God work through the weak and overlooked? When we think about it, we remember that these kind of questions echo throughout scripture, from Jeremiah’s reluctant call to John’s prophetic life: God uses unlikely people in unexpected ways to reveal His grace.

In this season of Advent, the invitation is there to pause and reflect on God’s purposes in our own lives. Scripture will never be specifically written about our lives. But we each can carry on the role of prepearing the way for the good news of a person like none other, who loves extraordinarily, forgives widely, and heals liberally. Maybe we won’t preach to a thousand people or write a book read by thousands more, but the people we meet today just may be given hope if we open ourselves up to giving it.

Luke 1:57-66

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy. Her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her because they had heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. On the eighth day, it came time to circumcise the child. They wanted to name him Zechariah because that was his father’s name. But his mother replied, “No, his name will be John.”

They said to her, “None of your relatives have that name.” Then they began gesturing to his father to see what he wanted to call him.

After asking for a tablet, he surprised everyone by writing, “His name is John.” At that moment, Zechariah was able to speak again, and he began praising God.

All their neighbors were filled with awe, and everyone throughout the Judean highlands talked about what had happened. All who heard about this considered it carefully. They said, “What then will this child be?” Indeed, the Lord’s power was with him.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

The Lord’s word came to me: “Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations.”

Prayer

God,

Use my life today. Even if I am only a prophet to myself, speak your word through me. But do use me to tell of your goodness all day long.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.