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John the Baptist is one of my
favorite characters in the Bible. He did not care much for the
opinions of others. In an age when everyone knew his place, John stuck
out like a sore thumb. Dressed like a wild man, he rambled around
the Jordan Valley preaching and baptizing. Occasionally he went into
Jerusalem to rattle the occupants of that city.
Like Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth, John is an Advent person. He knew that
his life had a purpose and he knew that purpose came from God. John
prepared for his mission by spending his time in the Advent desert. He
was accustomed to waiting and listening for God. In the silence of his
heart, his own mission was revealed. He was not to be the Messiah.
He was to prepare the way for the Messiah! That was good enough for
John! He accepted his mission and went about preaching with
urgency, making straight the way of the Lord.
John could have said no to
God. He could have pointed out his lack of talent, his inexperience, he
could have claimed to be too busy, he could have asked for a better
mission. We remember John and the other Advent people of the gospel
because they accepted who they were, with all their limitations, and did
what the Lord asked of them.
Enter the stillness of these remaining weeks of Advent. Listen for the
Lord in your life. Accept yourself as God does. And ask for your
mission to be revealed!
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