“But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed.” Luke 1:60-63. We make traditions because they make us feel good. We like meaningful repetitions of events. We like things being done the way they always have been done. It brings a sense of comfort. We know what is coming. There are times though that we might have to question whether a tradition we created might need to change to make room for what God is moving in us to do. The church has had to change and evolve as the years have gone by. Some human traditions needed to be changed to make a way for the direction God was calling the Christian community go in. That’s nothing new. When John the Baptist is born there is a human tradition to name the son after the father, or someone in the family. The people expect Zechariah to name his son something traditional. God had told him differently. God said the child should be named John. Zechariah does as God instructs and puts his human tradition aside and names his son John. We must always be open to God’s voice and where He leads us. The church helps us by showing how it has changed to better serve and welcome God’s beloved children. Prayer: “Dear Lord, help me not to hold on too tightly to traditions made by man so that I miss what you might want me to do instead. I listen to Your word and follow where You lead. Amen.”

Written by Jamie Witt