57-58 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. And when her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her. 59-61 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.”  62-64 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.  He motioned for a writing tablet, and, to everyone’s surprise, he wrote, “His name is John.”  Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. 65-66 Awe fell upon the whole neighbourhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. Luke 1:57-66 New Living Translation.

Life is full of customs and traditions. Birthday parties, white wedding dresses, Christmas Trees, and even naming children after Dad, Mom, or a Grandparent. And that's what everyone expected of Elizabeth and Zechariah. (vs 59-61). But God had done something unusual in the lives of that couple and they broke away from tradition and it caused ripples in the neighbourhood. (vs 62-66)

When Jesus Christ lived in the world He also rocked the boat of people’s customs and traditions. He healed the sick on the Jewish Sabbath Day and bypassed rituals like ceremonial hand-washing before a meal. He mingled with societies outcasts and didn't pander to the powerful, the popular and the wealthy. It led to Him and His disciples being criticised by many people for daring to be different.

What about today? Can you think of examples where being obedient to God (as Zechariah and Elizabeth were) and following Jesus could 'rock the boat' of those around you? Even family members!

What of the attractive woman who dresses to be modest rather than provocative? What of the popular guy who believes in waiting till marriage rather than 'getting all he can' while dating? What of someone who rejects getting drunk on a night out? What of people who won't do underhand business deals even when they know it would not be found out? These things (and many more) have become quite customary in society and it’s expected of us to ‘not rock the boat’. But what does God’s word say?

“Dear brothers and sisters . . don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you’ll learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (That whole chapter is all about being different)

1 Peter vs 1-4 says of those who identify with Christ “Since you have finished with sin you won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but will be anxious to do the will of God! You had enough in the past of the evil things godless people enjoy - immorality, lust, feasting, drunkenness and wild parties. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do and so they slander you.”

Yes, obeying God in this world could rock people's boat and lead to hostility from them. But Peter goes on to say that, even if pleasing God leads to some suffering, “Keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.” (1 Peter 4:19)