Who Are We Listening To?

The guys sent from Jerusalem wanted to know who John was. And when he didn’t give them the answers they were looking for or tell them what they expected to hear they changed their tactics and asked, “…why do you baptize?”

Is there anyone today who’s taken John’s place? Who are the ones thundering in the desert today? Who’s doing today what the prophet Isaiah preached? Who’s preaching repentance? Who’s preparing us for the coming of the Messiah? If someone is, are we listening to them or are we too busy questioning their competence or their authority to hear the Message?

Do we, today, still question those people who tell the story of Jesus? Do we ask to see some form of certification that says they’re qualified or authorized do what they’re doing? And if we’re satisfied they’re properly qualified do we then ask them, “Why are you doing this thing?”

With all the questions we ask do we miss hearing the story? Are we missing the Good News they’re preaching? Is the noise of the world drowning out the Message they preach?

I’m asking these questions because all I’m hearing are politicians who have nothing good to say about their opponents or the incumbent. All I’m hearing is how bad things are and it’s all one person’s fault. And they’re the only ones who have all the answers. But I don’t believe any of them can be described as the “thunder in the desert.” Not once have I heard anyone talk about the things John spoke of, repentance and turning back to God.

The only places I’ve found anyone talking about social justice issues is in Sojourners magazine or The Christian Century or the Friends magazine published by the Quakers. So, my question is, “Who is the “Voice” for God’s people today?”

Who are we listening to? Who commands our attention? Who is promoting change in our society today?

Friends, the Message John was preaching was important then and is important for us to hear today. If the only voice we hear is John’s speaking to us from the Bible then maybe it would be good for us to listen. If the only thunder we hear is John’s voice asking us to repent, to turn back to the One who cares for us, then maybe it’s good that we hear the Message repeated again and again.

Maybe instead of questioning who John is we should listen for God’s message from those whom God has called. They might not be John the Baptizer, they probably don’t look like him either, but the Message is the same. Turn back to God; prepare the way for the Lord.

So, what are we to do? I think Paul has some good advice for us, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

John preached a message of repentance. Paul reminded his readers to always be joyful, pray constantly, and to give thanks no matter what happens in our lives.

It doesn’t matter who John was or who is proclaiming the word from the pulpit. What matters is that we listen to the Message and take it to heart. What matters is sharing the Message with those folks God brings to us everyday. What matters is not waiting for someone else to do something but to take care of those God brings to us. We all know who they are.

Whose voice are you listening to? In this Advent season let’s all take time to sit and listen for God’s voice. Let’s be God’s voice for those around us. Let’s be the hands and feet of God for those who are searching for something good in this world, and the next.

Friends, remember God loves you. Listen for his voice and share his love with everyone you meet. Thanks be to God for his grace-filled joy. Amen.

Joy

Are you always filled with joy? Are you one of those fortunate people whose glass is always half full? Do you wake up in the morning with a smile on your face and just can’t wait to begin the day?

If you are you must are probably in the minority. I know a few of those folks and they are a fun to be with. When I’m feeling a little bit low they have a way of lifting my spirits. I forget about what was bothering me and the light in my world becomes a little bit brighter.

I never stop to think about why I’m not always the cheerful one. But now that I’ve read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians I might have an answer. Do you know what it is?

First, it might be that we have to make an effort to be joyful. It could be that joy doesn’t come to us without some work on our part first. There’s that word again, work. Maybe if we’d call work play then it wouldn’t be so hard to do.

Any way it sounds as if we begin the day really trying to be joyful, put on a happy face, even when we don’t feel happy, before long we may actually be happy.

That’s the first part and the second thing is to pray continually. That’s another thing that’s hard for all of us to do. How do we find the time to pray without stopping?

I’ve heard people say, I’ve probably said it myself, we need to keep talking to God in our minds just as if he was walking right beside us. And that’s not so hard to do if you don’t move your lips all the time. Because then people might think you’re talking to yourself. They probably wouldn’t believe you if you said you were talking to God.

But, if we spend our days talking to God like he was always right beside us don’t you think our days would be more joyful? When I think back to the times I’ve been in constant prayer I realize I didn’t have time to think about my problems and I was happier.

So, let’s make a commitment to pray, talk, with God all the time. And I promise I won’t think you’re talking to yourself. In fact I’ll know you’re talking to the One who has all the answers.

The third thing Paul says is that we should give thanks no matter what happens. Now that’s not an easy thing to do either. Have you ever tried to give God thanks after running into a deer? Or thanking God when your water heater quits working? But hey, we shouldn’t say that won’t work until we give it a try.

I really believe that we could be filled with joy more often if we’d really try to do what Paul said. So, in the Advent season as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Messiah let’s all make the effort together to be “always joyful, pray continually, and give thanks for everything.” I’m going to make the commitment to try and I hope you will join me. Just think, if we all do it how much happier this world will be and if we’re talking with God more often then more of our prayers will be heard and it’ll be easier for us to be thankful for everything, everyday, no matter what takes place. And just think what a wonderful gift that would be for those around us.

What a way to share the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ by deciding to change our lives to be more joyful, more prayerful, and more thankful. We will more than likely find it easier to share the Good News of Jesus with those we meet on our journey through life.

Thanks be to God for his loving and forgiving grace. Amen.

Prepared?

How do we get ready for important happenings in our lives? How do we prepare our homes, our family and friends, our whole environment for important changes we know are imminent?

Think about all the milestones you’ve had in your lives. How much time was spent preparing for them, and preparing to celebrate them? And not just time, but how much money was used in the preparation?

And when the big day came did we find that all the preparation was worth it? What about the day after? How long did the excitement, the euphoria, last?

This morning we lit a candle for Advent signifying “preparation,” preparation for what? Do we know what we are preparing for?

Isaiah, Peter, and Mark each talks about being prepared. Isaiah and Mark actually uses the word prepare and Peter asks the question, “…what kind of people ought you to be?” Each of them said that the coming of the Messiah was important. Each of them stressed that changes needed to take place. Action needed to be taken.

So, what about now? What about the world and us? Have we prepared ourselves for the coming of the Messiah? Have we taken to heart the words Peter, Isaiah, and Mark wrote?

Not only about how we should be living but that the Messiah’s return is imminent. He could arrive this very minute.

If Jesus came this very minute would our response be, “Come, Lord Jesus, come. We’ve been anxiously waiting for you.” Or, would we more likely say, “Oh dear! I’m not ready yet! There’s some work I haven’t done yet! Can you wait a minute?”

Friends, we’ve heard these words before. In fact we’ve heard these same words every year during Advent. And we would still say, “Wait a minute! I’m not quite ready yet.” Really, that’s our response?

Way back before Jesus’ arrival John began exhorting the people to repent. He began doing something different in that the baptism he offered wasn’t just for those who were converts to Judaism. No, the baptism he offered was for those who were ready to repent, prepared to change; prepared to make their lives ready for the coming of the Messiah.

John’s, and Isaiah’s and Malachi’s, message is still being proclaimed across all the centuries, “Prepare for the Lord!” Do we have ears to hear? Are all our preparations done? Or, aren’t we quite ready yet?

What in the world are we waiting for? Listen to Peter’s message again, “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this (are we?), make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation…”

It can’t be any clearer. Jesus is going to break into the world again. Everything we hold dear today, all of this stuff, is going to disappear. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem. And all of this stuff will be gone. All that will matter then is that we’ve made every effort to get right with the Lord. All that will matter then is that we’ve done all we can to be prepared.

Friends, God sent his Son, Jesus, to us, so we could be saved. All he asks is that we pay attention to his Message and get our hearts and lives right with Him now.

God is extremely patient but someday Jesus will return and only those who have prepared for his coming will go home. Are we ready?

Friends, God loves us and is just waiting to anoint us with his forgiving grace. Let’s get ready today! Thanks be to God. Amen.