Advent 2
Devotional
Pause Before The Pulpit
Personal Reflections For Pastors On The Lectionary Readings
Mark 1:1-8
Just as last week's theme of "watchfulness" is a key Advent theme, so too, is this week's theme of "preparedness." Our calling, as proclaimers of the word, is to urge all who hear, to be watching and prepared for our Lord's Second Advent. In this way, our ministries are similar to that of John the Baptist.
Can you imagine being called to a ministry like that of John's? It would mean that every day, instead of going to a comfortable office, you would go out to the countryside, along a major river, and wait for people to come to you. You wouldn't be dressed in comfortable clothes that matched the styles of the day, but instead, you would wear itchy, coarse garments more common to a homeless person. You would not enjoy meals of rich delicacies, but rather, natural foods that would come right from the fields of your surroundings. Seem odd? Certain things about John and his ministry did seem odd!
However, John was not trying to be eccentric, for this was who God had called him to be; where God had called him to serve; and what God had called him to do. His ministry (as short as it would be) was for the specific purpose of preparing the way for the Lord.
Each pastor has a calling that is somewhat unique and different from anyone else, as well. The way in which God called us to ministry might be quite different from others. The gifts he has given us and the way in which he wants us to employ them might be different from that of others. The setting that he wants us to minister most often is different from anyone else's, and our means and style of ministry is often unique to each of us. No two pastors, nor their ministries, are identical.
However, the overall purpose for which we were called into ministry is identical. Like John, we were called to prepare people for Jesus. His ministry of preparation was linked to Christ's first coming to earth and earthly ministry. Our ministry of preparation is linked to Christ's Second Coming and heavenly reign.
We can see additional similarities between John's ministry and that of pastors today. First, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We too, through faithful proclamation of Law and Grace, emphasize the importance of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We too, practice baptism (in one form and tradition or another) in relation to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. John did this faithfully, in his setting and style, so that his listeners would be prepared for the day that Jesus would walk into their lives. We are to do this faithfully, in the setting and style that God has given us, so that our listeners will be prepared for the day that Jesus returns for all who believe in him.
Secondly, John dealt with the confession of sins. One can only imagine what he heard by way of confession from those who were coming out to listen to him and be baptized. John didn't judge these people, but rather proclaimed, to those who were truly repentant, the forgiveness of sins! That is an important part of our ministries today -- the ministry of confession and absolution. The way we do this, and where we do this, may be different in various church traditions and differ based on the various needs of people, but the bottom line is that we are called by God to be his ears and lips -- to listen to people as they confess their sins and, for those who are truly repentant, to proclaim the forgiveness of those sins on the basis of the blood of Christ.
Last of all, I'm moved by John's humility, which ought to be characteristic of each of us. John recognized that Jesus was more powerful than he. He recognized the greatness of Christ to the degree that he felt unworthy to even stoop and untie the sandals on Jesus' feet. He also recognized that his ministry was only a visible reflection of the real, invisible work of the Holy Spirit.
May our ministries be characterized by such humility. May people not be drawn to us, our personalities, and our gifts, but rather through us, be pointed to Christ who is infinitely greater than us!
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for calling me to proclaim your word. May your Holy Spirit work through me to prepare many people for your Second Coming. May my ministry be characterized by true humility whereby you alone are glorified. Amen.
2 Peter 3:8-15a
I don't know about you, but patience is not one of my strong points! In fact, my lack of patience is often detrimental to my effectiveness as a pastor, husband, and father. In the church, I want people to grow and mature now! In evangelism, I want people to come to faith in Christ now! In the home, I want my family to understand me and comply with my wishes now! In the wake of all this impatience, people get hurt and my ability to relate to them is hindered.
Notice what our Epistle Lesson has to say on this. Peter pointed out that it is a fact that God is patient. Why? Because he does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. Peter wanted the church to know that time is not the important issue when it comes to evangelism and spiritual growth. All too often we get this confused. We think we need to save the world today and that everyone should grow up immediately, because Jesus could return at any moment. The imminent return of Christ is a reality that we live with, but it is no reason for panic and impatience when it comes to our ministries. This has been a hard reality for me to deal with, and possibly for you as well.
What is important to God, over and above the element of time, is that people would not perish, but rather come to repentance. Since that is God's primary focus, it ought to be ours as well; and it takes divine patience since people (ourselves included) can be so slow to come to a point of genuine repentance.
The urgency in this matter, lies not so much in the "when" of Christ's return, but in the absolute fact of his return. There is a Second Advent coming just as there was a First Advent. Both will usher in a new age. His First Advent ushered in the age of the church. His Second Advent will usher in the eternal age of a new heaven and a new earth. Those who are not ready for his Second Advent will be destroyed, which is exactly what God does not want to see happen. Therefore, he has employed us in this ministry of preparing people so they can, simply by faith in Christ Jesus, escape the coming and certain destruction of everything as we know it.
Peter then proposed to his readers that there is an appropriate way for us to live our lives in the interim. They are to be lives marked by holiness and godliness. They are to be lives lived in waiting, not so "heavenly minded we are of no earthly good," but lived with loose attachment to the things of this life, which will all be destroyed anyway. Peter emphasized these things by urging his readers to strive to be found by him (God) at peace, without spot or blemish.
Again, this text, like all of scripture, forces us to reflect on who we are and our relationship with this patient God, before we speak of these truths to others.
Are our lives marked by holiness and godliness? The good news of the gospel is that, by faith in Christ, God chooses to see us as holy! That, in turn, ought to be what motivates us to follow Paul's directive, to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1). This is what it means to live a godly life.
Are we living life loosely attached to the material things around us that will one day perish at the Lord's return? It isn't just the unbelieving world around us, nor carnal Christians, who get attached to material things. We in the ministry can, too. Often we are tempted to find comfort and significance in the people and things around us.
Is our devotional life, our professional life, and our private life seen by God, and others, as a striving to be found by [God] at peace, and without spot or blemish?
The answers to these questions are best found in humble prayer before God, as we honestly ask him to search us and know our hearts, to test us and to know our thoughts (Psalm 139:22).
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please forgive me for my impatience with you and with others. Help me to know how to live with this tension of urgency, by not focusing on time, but on the importance of repentance and preparedness for your Second Coming. Help me to live a life of peace and lose attachment to material things, without spot or blemish, which brings glory to you. Thank you. Amen.
Just as last week's theme of "watchfulness" is a key Advent theme, so too, is this week's theme of "preparedness." Our calling, as proclaimers of the word, is to urge all who hear, to be watching and prepared for our Lord's Second Advent. In this way, our ministries are similar to that of John the Baptist.
Can you imagine being called to a ministry like that of John's? It would mean that every day, instead of going to a comfortable office, you would go out to the countryside, along a major river, and wait for people to come to you. You wouldn't be dressed in comfortable clothes that matched the styles of the day, but instead, you would wear itchy, coarse garments more common to a homeless person. You would not enjoy meals of rich delicacies, but rather, natural foods that would come right from the fields of your surroundings. Seem odd? Certain things about John and his ministry did seem odd!
However, John was not trying to be eccentric, for this was who God had called him to be; where God had called him to serve; and what God had called him to do. His ministry (as short as it would be) was for the specific purpose of preparing the way for the Lord.
Each pastor has a calling that is somewhat unique and different from anyone else, as well. The way in which God called us to ministry might be quite different from others. The gifts he has given us and the way in which he wants us to employ them might be different from that of others. The setting that he wants us to minister most often is different from anyone else's, and our means and style of ministry is often unique to each of us. No two pastors, nor their ministries, are identical.
However, the overall purpose for which we were called into ministry is identical. Like John, we were called to prepare people for Jesus. His ministry of preparation was linked to Christ's first coming to earth and earthly ministry. Our ministry of preparation is linked to Christ's Second Coming and heavenly reign.
We can see additional similarities between John's ministry and that of pastors today. First, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We too, through faithful proclamation of Law and Grace, emphasize the importance of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We too, practice baptism (in one form and tradition or another) in relation to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. John did this faithfully, in his setting and style, so that his listeners would be prepared for the day that Jesus would walk into their lives. We are to do this faithfully, in the setting and style that God has given us, so that our listeners will be prepared for the day that Jesus returns for all who believe in him.
Secondly, John dealt with the confession of sins. One can only imagine what he heard by way of confession from those who were coming out to listen to him and be baptized. John didn't judge these people, but rather proclaimed, to those who were truly repentant, the forgiveness of sins! That is an important part of our ministries today -- the ministry of confession and absolution. The way we do this, and where we do this, may be different in various church traditions and differ based on the various needs of people, but the bottom line is that we are called by God to be his ears and lips -- to listen to people as they confess their sins and, for those who are truly repentant, to proclaim the forgiveness of those sins on the basis of the blood of Christ.
Last of all, I'm moved by John's humility, which ought to be characteristic of each of us. John recognized that Jesus was more powerful than he. He recognized the greatness of Christ to the degree that he felt unworthy to even stoop and untie the sandals on Jesus' feet. He also recognized that his ministry was only a visible reflection of the real, invisible work of the Holy Spirit.
May our ministries be characterized by such humility. May people not be drawn to us, our personalities, and our gifts, but rather through us, be pointed to Christ who is infinitely greater than us!
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for calling me to proclaim your word. May your Holy Spirit work through me to prepare many people for your Second Coming. May my ministry be characterized by true humility whereby you alone are glorified. Amen.
2 Peter 3:8-15a
I don't know about you, but patience is not one of my strong points! In fact, my lack of patience is often detrimental to my effectiveness as a pastor, husband, and father. In the church, I want people to grow and mature now! In evangelism, I want people to come to faith in Christ now! In the home, I want my family to understand me and comply with my wishes now! In the wake of all this impatience, people get hurt and my ability to relate to them is hindered.
Notice what our Epistle Lesson has to say on this. Peter pointed out that it is a fact that God is patient. Why? Because he does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. Peter wanted the church to know that time is not the important issue when it comes to evangelism and spiritual growth. All too often we get this confused. We think we need to save the world today and that everyone should grow up immediately, because Jesus could return at any moment. The imminent return of Christ is a reality that we live with, but it is no reason for panic and impatience when it comes to our ministries. This has been a hard reality for me to deal with, and possibly for you as well.
What is important to God, over and above the element of time, is that people would not perish, but rather come to repentance. Since that is God's primary focus, it ought to be ours as well; and it takes divine patience since people (ourselves included) can be so slow to come to a point of genuine repentance.
The urgency in this matter, lies not so much in the "when" of Christ's return, but in the absolute fact of his return. There is a Second Advent coming just as there was a First Advent. Both will usher in a new age. His First Advent ushered in the age of the church. His Second Advent will usher in the eternal age of a new heaven and a new earth. Those who are not ready for his Second Advent will be destroyed, which is exactly what God does not want to see happen. Therefore, he has employed us in this ministry of preparing people so they can, simply by faith in Christ Jesus, escape the coming and certain destruction of everything as we know it.
Peter then proposed to his readers that there is an appropriate way for us to live our lives in the interim. They are to be lives marked by holiness and godliness. They are to be lives lived in waiting, not so "heavenly minded we are of no earthly good," but lived with loose attachment to the things of this life, which will all be destroyed anyway. Peter emphasized these things by urging his readers to strive to be found by him (God) at peace, without spot or blemish.
Again, this text, like all of scripture, forces us to reflect on who we are and our relationship with this patient God, before we speak of these truths to others.
Are our lives marked by holiness and godliness? The good news of the gospel is that, by faith in Christ, God chooses to see us as holy! That, in turn, ought to be what motivates us to follow Paul's directive, to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1). This is what it means to live a godly life.
Are we living life loosely attached to the material things around us that will one day perish at the Lord's return? It isn't just the unbelieving world around us, nor carnal Christians, who get attached to material things. We in the ministry can, too. Often we are tempted to find comfort and significance in the people and things around us.
Is our devotional life, our professional life, and our private life seen by God, and others, as a striving to be found by [God] at peace, and without spot or blemish?
The answers to these questions are best found in humble prayer before God, as we honestly ask him to search us and know our hearts, to test us and to know our thoughts (Psalm 139:22).
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please forgive me for my impatience with you and with others. Help me to know how to live with this tension of urgency, by not focusing on time, but on the importance of repentance and preparedness for your Second Coming. Help me to live a life of peace and lose attachment to material things, without spot or blemish, which brings glory to you. Thank you. Amen.
