Subtitle: Let your name and your calling from God match your walk and your witness for Him.

Excerpt: The verse from Luke 1:16 is discussed, questioning the need for Zacharias to turn the children of Israel back to God. We need to reflect on their own faith journey and encourage others to align their actions with their calling from God.

Author: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Luke 1:16, “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

Background

Last weekend was our company’s Christmas party. Among the many highlights and traditions of this annual event is the impressive spread of wonderful food that is laid out throughout the owner’s home. From the appetizers and drinks in the sunroom to the meats and fruit and veggie trays in the dining room to the homemade desserts in the kitchen, there is something delicious for everyone, and more than enough of it for all. But the real showstopper for most of those attending is the amazing buffet of seafood out in the garage. Oysters, crab legs, and shrimp, freshly cooked on the back patio, lure many to stand over the tables and feast on one after another. Many times I have failed to make it out to the garage for camping out next to the roast beef, but this year my wife and I joined the fray. And for us, the beginning and end are the shrimp. But these aren’t just shrimp; they are the proverbial “jumbo” shrimp, significantly larger than “ordinary” shrimp. And every time I eat them, I always wonder if the guy who first named them would call them something else if he had realized how important their relative size was to each other. Much like the names of the ice-covered island of Greenland and the more temperate lands of Iceland, the label of jumbo shrimp seems to contradict what the eye beholds. I mean, could there be such a thing as a dwarf shrimp, too?

Application

As for misnomers, the children of Israel were God’s people, chosen to follow Him who was their God. But, when Zacharias found out that he and Elizabeth were to have a son, he was described as one to turn the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Really? Where exactly were God’s children if they needed to be turned to God? Apparently not where God wanted them to be. You and I are God’s children. You are His son or daughter. But has that seemed more of a misnomer for you lately? Where have you been? Has your God been re-named as a god? Do you need to be turned back to Him in some way? If so, then today is that day.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let your name and your calling from God match your walk and your witness for Him.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words