Grace

"When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, 'No. He will be called John.' But they answered her, 'There is no one among your relatives who has this name.' " - Luke 1:59-61

The name "John" translates (in Hebrew) "Graced by Yahweh". So it follows then that John could consider himself in the grace of God. And at the beginning, I'm sure it seemed that way. After all, he got to baptize God's only son - got to be there when he started his ministry, and be the cousin to the most influential person that's ever walked the earth.

But he had parts of his life that may not have seemed like he was in God's grace. Particularly at the end, when Herod's grand-niece asked (and later had delivered) John's head on a platter. Ouch.

It's interesting that, in today's society, we consider "grace" in the terms of receiving some sort of help or benefit. God's grace, however, doesn't necessarily mean the road of life will be easy. Rather, it means that we'll be able to live with God, to better understand His words, and to help align our life with what He has in store for us. Even at his death, John was in God's grace, for God never left his side. He was always there to guide him, and to give him strength, a voice and a purpose.

I hope that, when my time comes, I will be in God's grace. I hope you will too.