Oak Grove Baptist Church

 

From The Heart

Luke 1:64 “His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God.”

It was Thanksgiving Day for Zechariah. The answer to his prayers had arrived after many, many years: his wife Elizabeth, had given birth to a son. It was the eighth day since his birth, and the friends and family had assembled to celebrate the birth and circumcision. It was customary to name the son on the day of celebration. The friends had attempted to name the little son after his father Zachariah, but Elizabeth had insisted that his name be John. When they gave a writing tablet to the apparently deaf and mute Zachariah, he wrote on the tablet that the baby’s name was to be John. This was the name the angel had given in the temple when his birth was announced.

When Zechariah obediently wrote down the name, John, his tongue was loosed and his ears unstopped. He broke out into a hymn of praise to God.

It is not surprising that Zechariah was thankful and sang to the Lord; yet, in the light of his recent ordeal, we may be surprised to learn that what he was most thankful for. Zechariah had at the top of his list the greatest blessing God ever gave to man. Zechariah thanked God for the great salvation he was giving to the world through the coming of the one to be born to Mary.

Salvation is God’s greatest gift to humankind. As we gather during this season of thanksgiving, let us give praise to God for our salvation.