Home Is Where We Find Welcome

We began our journey of talking about home as the place for which our heart is longing. Just as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) eventually longed to return to his Father's house, our hearts are programed to long to be in God's house. We long for the joy and the peace that only God's home can provide. Last week we talked about how the journey home requires preparation. We must prepare our hearts to receive the good gifts that God has waiting for us. And that means recognizing, confessing and repenting of our sins. This week we again look at repentance and the incredible gifts that come after one repents.

This weeks passages are:
Luke 3:7-18
Zephaniah3:14-20

"You brood of vipers!" This is how John starts his sermon to the people. Reading this passage can feel a bit like a slap in the face. You think, "how dare you, John, call me a viper!!" John's harsh message of repentance can be hard to swallow. But, here's the interesting thing. You would think that a crazy man railing in the desert would be largely ignored by the people. Maybe you'd get a few people going to see this novelty, but you'd think that most people would get offended and leave. But they don't.

Instead, as the passage continues, we see that there are crowds around him, not just listening, but even more asking him for advice on how to live their lives. Even more, the crowds contain the hated tax collectors and soldiers. How is it that this crazy preacher with such a severe message attracts such a wide variety of followers?

I think, it comes because people know truth when they find it. These people knew they needed to repent and turn around and live a new life, and they were thrilled when someone was bold enough to confess it. The notes in my Study Bible say, "John's message emphasizes judgement, but even news of judgement can be good news if it brings people to genuine repentance and moral transformation."

The news of judgement brought people from every walk of life: peasants, tax collectors, soldiers. All were welcome to hear and receive this news. And even better, to those who receive it, they find the peace and joy that comes through repentance.

The JOY of repentance is found in the passage from Zechariah in which God rejoices and sings and gathers and renews the repentant Israelites. After the harsh punishment of exile, the people have repented and returned to God and now they find the welcome and joy that only God can give.

Questions to ponder...
How do you react to John's message of judgement and repentance?
Spend some time in prayer. Are there places in your life where you need to turn around and repent?
Can you imagine God rejoicing over you with singing?

As you walk through the call to repentance remember that God asks us to repent not to beat ourselves up with guilt, but so that we can be in relationship with God and realize that our God rejoices over us with singing! Praise be to God!!

Coming Home Takes Preparation

As we continue to focus on our theme of "Coming Home for Christmas" this week we turn our attention to the preparation required in order to go home for Christmas. More specifically, what does it take to spend quality time with God and our Christian family this season?

The passages for Sunday are:
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 1:68-79
Luke 3:1-6

These passages all focus on John the Baptist's coming. As you probably know, John the Baptist is the messanger who came in order to prepare the way for Jesus. John the Baptist is an interesting character. He is rough and gruff and does not worry about being pretty. Next week we get a taste of his sermon style, but even this week as he is introduced we get the idea that this messenger isn't preparing the way for Jesus by sprinkling rose petals.

Malachi writes, "who can endure the day when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and a fuller's soap." Zechariah says of his son, "you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins." No matter how you look at things, John the Baptist requires you to get ready for Jesus by doing some cleaning up and examining your sins.

This is important for us, too. Sometimes, we need to look at our lives and do a little cleaning. We need to throw out the bad habits and make way for new. We need to clear off our schedule so that we can find time to spend with Jesus.

And while it's true that the cleaning process is rarely easy, it is equally true that being clean is worth all the effort.

Questions to ponder?
Why is John the Baptist's message important during Advent? Why do we need to look at our own sins in order to focus on Jesus' return?

John the Baptist reminds us to prepare the way for Christ. What do you need to do to prepare to see Jesus during this Advent season?

What things are cluttering your life and preventing you from finding true worship this Advent? What can you do to change this? Is their anything your Christian family can do to help?

May God bless you in your Advent preparations this year!