One potential topic for this Sunday of Advent is the idea of messengers, just like John the Baptist was the messenger preparing the people for the coming of the Lord.
I am grateful for the messengers of truth in my life. I am grateful for prophets. I am grateful for scriptures. I am grateful for spiritual thinkers and wise leaders.
Sometimes, though, I want more complicated messages than they always deliver. I don't always want faith and repentance. I want exegesis and prophecy.
But here's a problem -- there were other people who were interested in those topics: the Pharisees. And here's what John the Baptist said to them:
7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
"Fruits meet for repentance." John the Baptist was preparing people to meet a literal member of the Godhead, and that's what he focused on. So must we.
When I really think about it, I'm glad for those constant messages of faith and repentance. I often worry about deception in myself or others, and I have found I trust very few other messages. But I can trust messages about faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. I can trust them because I always need them.
There was a time this summer when it hit me. What God cares about is our soft hearts. He can work with soft hearts, even if we are misguided at times. He can work with us even though we might not ever get all the facts right. He is powerful enough and good enough to make a plan that can handle our mistakes. Our job is just to decide to trust and love Him.
And maybe, that means trust Him to speak to us through His human messengers.
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