What a cool date today– 12-13-14.  Just saying…

December 13, 2014

Mark 1:1-3

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

Prepare the way for Jesus. How’s that for a job description! I don’t envy John the Baptist’s task, do you? A lonely figure standing against the prevailing tides of empty religiosity and cultural accommodation. A striking (contrast) lifestyle of simplicity and single-minded devotion. Beckoning, even pleading with people to turn away from lives of futility and self-service and return to the Lord. Challenging those cloaked in religion to reconsider whether they were truly seeking God or were simply keeping up appearances. Prophetic work isn’t easy, is it?

But our calling isn’t all that different, is it? Followers of Jesus are called to be a contrast community- displaying the truth and grace of our King in the midst of a world gone astray. We, too, are to look in the mirror and ask whether our faith is worn for appearances or is a genuine garment, consistent with our interior life.   How about simplicity and single-minded devotion? Should these not mark our lives as well?   Prophetic work is never easy, it’s true. But this, too, is part of our calling. What if we took a few steps in John’s footsteps, leaned into our shared prophetic calling? Perhaps we’d be better able to point others- and even our own souls- to Jesus.

What aspects of John’s prophetic calling and message do you need to imitate?

How can you be pointing others to Jesus more clearly this Advent?

For Families:

Talk about what it’s like to do and say what is right, even when it might not be popular.