Faith requires action.

So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. After motioning for a writing tablet, in amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord. (Luke 1.62 – 64, Passion Translation)

The judgment on Zechariah was that he would be mute. It doesn’t say he would be deaf. I wonder if the people just assumed he was deaf. He would have been in seclusion, no doubt, so they didn’t know. I remember when we met Sox the Fox at the Sky Sox minor league baseball stadium. I acted like he was deaf since he didn’t talk. My son Mark said, “He can hear you; he just can’t answer you.” Of course.

I don’t know if that’s important or even interesting, but I always wondered about why they gestured to Zechariah.

Zechariah was acting in faith, however, naming the baby John as he had been told.

But the angel reassured him, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God is showing grace to you. For I have come to tell you that your prayer for a child has been answered. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son and you are to name him John. … Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand beside God himself. He has sent me to announce to you this good news. But now, since you did not believe my words, you will be stricken silent and unable to speak until the day my words have been fulfilled at their appointed time and a child is born to you. That will be your sign!” (Luke 1:13 – 20, Passion Translation)

“Unable to speak UNTIL the day my words have been fulfilled.” The words included not only that they would have a son but that he would be named John.

Zechariah acts in faith and obedience. First, by fulfilling his husbandly duties to Elizabeth. Second by naming the baby John.

Faith requires action. For example, to express faith in the COVID vaccine, we’ll actually have to take the vaccine AND decrease some of our isolation.

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2.17, NIV)

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. (Hebrews 11.7, NIV)