The Jesse Tree: Day 22
PENCIL & TABLET
Do you have a birth story? Of course you do- everyone has been born. But I’m willing to bet that most have never had a birth story quite like John the Baptist’s. And like any good birth story, there are lessons tucked between the cries, the unexpected, and the awkward family moments.
Elizabeth gives birth after years of waiting. In her culture, having a son was not merely a personal joy; it was a matter of family legacy, inheritance, and social stability. Friends and neighbors celebrate, but immediately, the question arises: what will we name him? Everyone assumes he will carry his father’s name. But God had a different plan.
Here’s where the pencil and tablet enter the story. Zechariah, struck mute months earlier for questioning God’s word, now has his voice restored. When asked what the child’s name will be, he writes it down: “John.” And in that simple act, a profound truth is revealed: obedience often precedes blessing. God’s story is written, sometimes literally, before our understanding catches up. The pencil scratches on the tablet, bridging silence and speech, doubt and praise, expectation and divine reality.
The tablet in Zechariah’s hand becomes a symbol for all of us: God invites us into His story, even when we cannot yet speak. The pencil is our obedience: small, faithful strokes that record His plan in our lives. Like Zechariah, we might not feel ready to celebrate, to bless, or even to speak God’s truth in a world that questions us. Yet, in faithful action, however small, the narrative of God’s mercy unfolds.
And then there’s John himself, a baby already marked by purpose. Zechariah’s prophecy makes clear that John is the one to prepare the way, not to be adored. The pencil and tablet remind us that preparation matters. The work we do now, even unseen, sets the stage for God’s glory. Waiting, praising, obeying; these are the strokes that bring the bigger picture into focus.
Elizabeth teaches perseverance; Zechariah teaches praise; John teaches preparation. And we? We hold the pencil in our own hands, called to obey, write, and share the story of God’s mercy, even in the quietest or most challenging seasons.
Elizabeth gives birth after years of waiting. In her culture, having a son was not merely a personal joy; it was a matter of family legacy, inheritance, and social stability. Friends and neighbors celebrate, but immediately, the question arises: what will we name him? Everyone assumes he will carry his father’s name. But God had a different plan.
Here’s where the pencil and tablet enter the story. Zechariah, struck mute months earlier for questioning God’s word, now has his voice restored. When asked what the child’s name will be, he writes it down: “John.” And in that simple act, a profound truth is revealed: obedience often precedes blessing. God’s story is written, sometimes literally, before our understanding catches up. The pencil scratches on the tablet, bridging silence and speech, doubt and praise, expectation and divine reality.
The tablet in Zechariah’s hand becomes a symbol for all of us: God invites us into His story, even when we cannot yet speak. The pencil is our obedience: small, faithful strokes that record His plan in our lives. Like Zechariah, we might not feel ready to celebrate, to bless, or even to speak God’s truth in a world that questions us. Yet, in faithful action, however small, the narrative of God’s mercy unfolds.
And then there’s John himself, a baby already marked by purpose. Zechariah’s prophecy makes clear that John is the one to prepare the way, not to be adored. The pencil and tablet remind us that preparation matters. The work we do now, even unseen, sets the stage for God’s glory. Waiting, praising, obeying; these are the strokes that bring the bigger picture into focus.
Elizabeth teaches perseverance; Zechariah teaches praise; John teaches preparation. And we? We hold the pencil in our own hands, called to obey, write, and share the story of God’s mercy, even in the quietest or most challenging seasons.
Pause to reflect
How can you use the “pencil and tablet” of your life to faithfully record God’s work this Advent season?
How can you better order your life around the privilege of sharing Christ with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues?
How can you better order your life around the privilege of sharing Christ with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues?
Lord, give us faith like Elizabeth to persevere, courage like Zechariah to praise, and purpose like John to prepare. May our lives be a faithful record of Your mercy, written with the pencil of obedience on the tablet of our hearts, pointing others to the Savior this Advent season. Amen.
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