A birth is to be one of joy and celebration”¦just as we anticipate this Christmas”¦to be one of joy and celebration.

Elizabeth had had her baby boy and it was time to circumcise him. It was the day of joy and celebration and it was time to name him. Remember, Zacharias was mute and had been since the day that he was told they would have a son.

The men who had come to do this special ceremony were going to name the baby after his father, Zacharias, but Elizabeth said “˜No”™. His name is to be John.

(NASB) Luke 1:61 “And they said to her, “˜There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”™

Isn”™t it interesting? Zacharias had expressed unbelief to the angel”™s message about fathering a child and now these men were expressing unbelief about naming the baby John.

Do you and I respond and/or react in the same way these men did? Do we express unbelief in what another says? Do we react to others with negative statements or many times finding fault with what they have said?

Do we, more often than not, have an opposing view? What a downer that is to others. I do this way too often, do you? Being perverse is unbecoming and a real “˜turn off”™ to others.

(NASB) Proverbs 10:32 “The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”

(NASB) Proverbs 11:20 “The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.”

Perversity or delighting the Lord ~ is a choice we need to make.

(NASB) Luke 1:62-63 “And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “˜His name is John.”™ And they were all astonished.”

These men were depending on “˜tradition”™. And this couple was going against that tradition. They had no choice but to name the baby John, because the father had said so.

Elizabeth and Zacharias “˜were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.”™ (See Luke 1:6)

(NIV) Proverbs 25:11

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

What words will you choose this day? Perverse words or words that delight the Lord?

How shall you now pray?