This Advent season leading up to the celebration of Christmas provides us with a wonderful opportunity to witness to the Christ-child. It's easy for us as believers to get sidetracked from our role as brothers and sisters of the One born in Bethlehem.
Sunday's Gospel (1 John 1:6-8, 19-28) speaks to the relation of John the Baptist to Jesus. John himself was one who came to point people to Jesus. Apparently, John had established his own followers--some who thought that he was the Messiah. The evanglist John makes it clear that John the Baptist came to direct people to Jesus. Jesus needed someone like John so that there would be no confusion as to who is the Messiah.
John the Baptist came to point people to Jesus, the one who came to be the light of the world. As such, John knew that he could only do so with humility. It is Jesus who must increase and he, John, must decrease.
At this time of the year, our role is to follow in the footsteps of John. We are to point people to Jesus. Have you thought about yourself doing this as Christmas is approaching? I think that we need not be timid about who we are. We can point to Christ through our Christmas cards, our decorations, and our converstations.
Will you make this to be an emphasis of yours during this Advent season? Are there any additional ways that we can point people to Jesus?
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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2 comments:
This season has so many wonders, but also, we allow it to often be quite frenetic. One of the ways I am trying to help myself refocus, is to be in the present, without regrets about the past or anxiety about the future. (Sometimes easier said than done...)
I've been reading the book THE SHACK. There is an entry where Jesus is talking with Mack. Jesus shared with Mack that he lives in the present. I thought about this for a while, and it reminded me how powerful it is to BE. John's Gospel gives great insights. A special verse I like is the one where Jesus says, "I have come that you may have life, and have is more abundantly." If we can live our life fully, in harmony with God, who we are with others will naturally show forth our love for God, and God's love for us. Living fully at each moment with love and gratitude, it is easy to see God in everything we see and do.
Faith and trust in God leaves me with an incredible awe, knowing that "Everything will work out, for those who love the Lord." And it is up to us to share that trust...
The book, The Shack,helped to give me another picture from which to view the Trinity. In regard to living in the present; yes, that is really where things happen. Our past is gone; the future has not yet arrived. It is in the present moment where we can make the biggest impact. Thanks for the comment.
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