A Call to Change

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MATTHEW 3: 1-12 (THE MESSAGE)

While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here." John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy: Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!” John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned.

Today we hear a challenging message from a crazy character: change your life. What does that mean for you? What would you need to give up or let go to be able to turn your life more fully toward love and grace? What would you need to do to make room for one another and for God? What do you need to take on, to do more of, or to make more space for in your life in order for you to feel the joy of being alive? Do you need to let go of busyness and make room for quiet stillness? Do you need to let go of the distractions and commercialism of this season and make room for intentional consideration of the people in your lives and offer them a gift that will make a difference in their lives? What does this mean for you?

During this Advent season, as we make room in our lives for God, we are also called to think differently about how we live and how we engage this holiday season. Join us for worship and the Alternative Gift Market where we can purchase gifts that share our resources and give the gift of life to our brothers and sisters all over the world. This Sunday we will experience what it is like to truly give and receive grace and love. Please join us for at 10:00am at Christ Church this Sunday for a dynamic and creative service of worship.