Know Who You Belong To

Do you know where you belong? Do you know your place in the world? Have you taken stock of who you are? Do you know your skills or talents? Have you made the effort to educate yourself? Have you accepted the invitation to be in Christ’s kingdom?

Over the years I have concluded that we do not really know our place in the world. So, so many of us want to be the royals. We want to throw big parties. We want to have all the luxuries. We want to wear only the name brands. And we will do it, even if it means mortgaging our future.

There is another lack we have. We lack knowing who we belong to. Because we don’t really know what it means to belong to God, to Christ, we are not comfortable with who we are. Oh, we may say we are, but we aren’t. It is evident by the worry, anxiety, and stress we live under. If we truly knew God and really trusted him with everything, we would not live the way we do. Oh, perhaps for a moment or two we might worry, but we would remind ourselves that we belong to God, and he will take care of it.

John knew who Jesus would be. John knew the Messiah was so far above him that he did not deserve to be in His presence. John knew his place in the world. He knew he was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He knew what his mission was. And he also knew that he belonged to God. He did not worry. He trusted God. He went about doing what he was to do.

We can learn a lesson from John. We may not have a mission like John’s, but we have a mission given to us by God. Our lives would be far better if we were to trust God and seek to do what he wants us to do. By trusting God, really trusting him, we can eliminate our worry, anxiety, and stress.

I pray we all trust God with all our heart. I pray we seek to carry out the mission God has given us. I pray each one of us finds our place in the world and know who we belong to. Rid yourself of worry. Rid yourself of anxiety. Rid yourself of stress. Trust God. Know you belong to him. Know that he is in control. Carry out the mission God has for you.

Luke 3:16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Hard to Believe

Have you witnessed an amazing event? Have you seen something you could hardly believe? Would you like to see something amazing? Would you like to be part of something amazing? Can you imagine how John the Baptist felt when he witnessed what happened at Jesus’ baptism?

We may have seen something amazing in our lifetimes. We may have seen something we weren’t sure really happened. We replay them in our mind over and over and over, just to try to wrap our minds around them.

In Jeff Pearlman’s book, The Last Folk Hero, The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson, he relates a story of Bo hitting a home run during his freshman year at Auburn University. They were visiting Alabama Christian College that spring day. A relief pitcher came in to pitch in the fifth inning. Bo steps in and clobbered the third pitch. It sailed beyond the outfield wall, over the street, over the pines, and on one hop, hit against the wall of an apartment complex. It was estimated to have gone 525 feet (pg 122). Amazing!

John the Baptist witnessed something even more amazing. Upon baptizing Jesus, he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and rest on Jesus. He saw the promise of God to redeem the world come to him and begin His ministry. He witnessed the most promising moment in the history of the world. There was no end to the potential for what would happen. There is no end of what can still happen, until God decides the time has come to end time.

We are promised the same Spirit that came to rest on Jesus. We are promised to be guided by the Spirit if we will accept it. God desires to bless us with the gift of His Spirit. We can accept God’s gift as easily as Jesus did. We, too, can witness something amazing.

I pray we all accept the gift of God’s Spirit. I pray we choose to allow the Spirit to guide our lives. I pray each one of us will be a participant and witness of something amazing. Accept the gift. Accept the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit to guide you. Participate in something amazing. Witness something amazing.

John 1:32-34 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

True Life

Are you alive? Are you truly alive? Do you know what it means to be truly alive? Or are you living a lifeless life? Does living a life of purpose and true-life sound appealing to you? Do you know it is available to you if you will accept it?

Many people, far too many, live a lifeless life. I’m not referring to a boring life of drudgery. I’m referring to a life that lacks a future. Oh, they may have wonderful adventures that bring excitement for a short bit. But they don’t live a life with a guaranteed future.

Think about it for just a moment. How many “rich and famous” people have you heard of who were sad, unhappy, or broken to the point they saw no way out. They have money, lots of it, and yet are not satisfied. They have fame with lots of fans but are lonely. They appear with smiles in the public eye but live a secluded life otherwise.

The truly rewarding life, one with a reward beyond this life, is a life in Christ. This life includes the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us. It includes listening to the guidance and direction of the Spirit. It includes the knowledge and trust that God is always with us and has a plan for us. It includes understanding that this physical life will end but we will continue to live as a spirit in God’s presence until the resurrection. It includes knowing we belong to God for all eternity.

Only by living a life filled with the Holy Spirit can we truly live the life God desires for us. We are offered this life because of what Jesus has done for us. We can accept this life in the same way Jesus did. It is our choice. Continue to live a life of death or live a life filled by the Spirit.

I pray we all decide to accept God’s invitation. I pray we choose a life filled with the Spirit. I pray each one of us trust God to give us an eternal life and a true-life in these physical bodies. Accept God’s invitation. Follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Live a life filled by the Spirit. Experience true-life. Trust God.

Romans 8:9-10 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Unrecognized

Have you been mistaken for someone else? Have you seen someone that looks familiar, but you cannot place them? Have you been told a certain person was coming and you missed them? Have you thought about how common it is to miss someone important?

I’m sure we all have seen someone somewhere who looked familiar. We may think that we have seen them before and perhaps been introduced to them. We may have met someone, talked with them, and didn’t know who they really were or just how important they were.

Elijah was an important part of the plan for the coming Messiah. Prophecy had foretold his coming ahead of the Messiah. He was to prepare the way. His job was to begin the process of opening people’s hearts and minds, turning them back to God. Many people met him, yet they did not recognize him for who he was.

It began with his birth. He was given a priestly name, a name that was not common among the Jews. He went outside of town to commune with God, preach God’s message, and baptize people who repented for the forgiveness of their sins. Though many people saw him, heard him, and were baptized by him, they didn’t identify him as the one prophesied about.

As the apostles were questioning Jesus, He opened their eyes to who Elijah was. They had missed him as well. John the Baptist came as Elijah. He came to prepare the way for Jesus. He began to open people’s hearts and minds. Perhaps we need to open our hearts and minds to see how God is working in our world today.

I pray we all seek to see God at work today. I pray we open our hearts and minds to God’s plan. I pray each one of us will recognize God working in our lives and in the world around us. Open your heart. Open your mind. See God at work. See God using others. Be available for God to use you.

Matthew 17:11-13 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

John’s Mission Continues

Have you seen someone who is far greater than you? Have you worked to prepare the way for someone expected? Would you like to be sent ahead of someone who is important to prepare things ahead of them? Have you heard the story of John the Baptist?

Preparing the way for someone more important than yourself is not all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t believe me? Just ask any campaign worker. There are long hours of planning. Long hours of door knocking. Many hours of behind-the-scenes work. Often not much sleep.

Don’t know anyone working for a political campaign? Ask anyone who is trying grow your local church. Ask a pastor. Ask a dedicated committee member. It is a never-ending task of reaching out to new people. It is continually telling people about the ministries of the church, convincing people they need Jesus, and energizing the membership to get out into the community.

I imagine John the Baptist had many restless and sleepless nights. He knew his mission. He was to prepare the way for the most important person the world has ever seen. He was to prepare the way for the Messiah, the Christ. He was preaching, teaching, baptizing, and warning people of the coming of God himself into the world. Talk about a high-pressure job!

But John took it on with all the fervor he had. I’m sure he also leaned heavily on God to give him the strength, courage, and energy he needed to carry out his mission. We, too, must lean on God to guide us and provide us with the strength we need to carry out the mission he has given us, which is to continue to tell people about Jesus.

I pray we all take up the mission of telling others about Jesus. I pray we follow John’s example. I pray each one of us realize we are working for the most important person the world has ever seen—Jesus. Take on the mission. Ask God to guide you. Ask God for strength. Ask God for energy. Ask God for courage. Tell others about Jesus.

John 1:29-31 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Son of God

Do you sometimes question whether Jesus is really the Son of God? Are there questions that arise from time-to-time in your mind about His divinity? Do those questions come and go depending on your situation, mood, or discussions with others?

If you have questions about Jesus, God, or Christianity in general, you are not alone. It is common to wonder if we are following the right path. But those questions are less about God and more about us. After all, we often question whether we have made the right decision in many circumstances.

Questioning in an effort to understand is noteworthy. We should seek the truth, regardless of what it is we have heard. In fact, if we sought the truth more often, we would spread far fewer rumors and there would be less gossip. Seeking the truth about Jesus is worthy of our time.

The Scripture of the Jewish prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah. The gospels proclaim Jesus as the Messiah as eyewitness accounts. The Apostle Paul proclaims Him as the Messiah throughout his letters to the various churches. God, the Father, proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God and put the Spirit of God upon Him.

We have heard the story of Jesus’ conception and birth. We have heard of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. In both cases, the Holy Spirit is there. God executed his plan through the Holy Spirit to send Jesus into this world. The Father confirmed the Son through prophecy, spoken word, and action by the Spirit.

I pray we all seek to know the truth about Jesus. I pray we believe He is the Son of God. I pray each one of us see God at work through history to send his Son into the world as our Savior. Seek the truth. Read the prophecies. Hear the proclamation. Understand the Spirit’s work. Accept Jesus as your Savior.

Isaiah 42:1

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 

my chosen one in whom I delight; 

I will put my Spirit on him, 

and he will bring justice to the nations.”

Worship the Savior

What does worship mean to you? Is your worship one of rote behavior? Does your worship come from a humble heart? Do you bow before the Savior, whether figuratively or literally? Have you spent time considering what it means to worship God?

Worship can mean different things to different people. However, there is one specific thing that must be included no matter what the tradition, actions, or thoughts. Humility. Without a humble heart, worship is all but impossible. We must admit God is greater than we are, if we are to worship him.

To worship God fully, we must humble ourselves before him. The wise men humbled themselves before the infant Messiah. They recognized Him for who He was. Perhaps we need to recognize Him for who He is. No, we absolutely need to recognize Him for who He is.

If we truly see Jesus as our Lord and Savior, see Him as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” as stated in Isaiah 9:6, we will humble ourselves before Him, just as the wise men did more than two-thousand years ago.

Maybe we should ask God to open our eyes so that we will see him for who he is, our Creator. Maybe we should present our gifts to him on bended knee as the wise men did. Maybe we should shed tears of disbelief, awe, and wonder as they did. Perhaps we should recommit ourselves to God as we start a new year.

I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we see God for who he truly is. I pray each one of us will recommit ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Recognize Jesus for who He is. Admit God is greater. Humble yourself before the Almighty God. Be in awe.

Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Be Watchful

Have you been party to a secret meeting? Was it exciting and exhilarating to be part of? Was the meeting to plan a surprise party? Or was it to plan a trick on someone? Have you been in a secret meeting when you thought the leader was up to something other than what they said?

Secret meetings can be exhilarating. Especially if they are to plan a surprise party for someone. There is a lot of excitement, joviality, and energy. Being part of that kind of secret meeting gives us energy. That energy may carry over for several days.

On the other hand, secret meetings that discuss things not commonly known can seem to be out of place. If one party appears to be a little shady or wary or sneaky, the meeting can feel off. We may be wondering if it is just us who feel that way or did someone else notice it.

King Herod met with the wise men secretly to tell them where to find the infant Messiah. After their earlier meeting, when the wise men asked where He was to be born, King Herod met with the Jewish leaders to find out. He then met with the wise men in secret to tell them where and to instruct them to search thoroughly for Him. King Herod also instructed them to come back to report to him where they found Him. His sneaky little lie was that he wanted to go worship Him.

I wonder if the wise men had caught on and if they discussed it among themselves. If they did, they didn’t fully understand what Herod intended nor the extent of his ruthlessness. How do we know that? God intervened in a dream to tell them to return home a different way. God does that when someone intends to thwart his plan. He intervenes.

I pray we all seek to follow God’s plan. I pray we learn the lesson the wise men learned. I pray we see through the lies and half-truths others speak as they lay plans to undermine God’s plan. Follow God’s plan. Be watchful. See when others are being sneaky. Ask God to help you see through the lies.

Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Hard Question

Have you been the outsider? Have you been the outsider who came in to point out the obvious that no one else saw? Have you been looked at as though you were out of your mind? Have you stood your ground and waited for them to acknowledge you anyway?

Some of us may have been an outsider whom no one on the inside gave any credit to. We may have pointed out something that made perfect sense and been looked at with eyebrows raised. Our thoughts may have been dismissed out of hand. We may have felt shunned.

That may be how the wise men felt in King Herod’s court. They came to ask a question. It was obvious King Herod didn’t know. In fact, he probably didn’t want to know. He also likely felt threatened by the question. After all, if there was a new king, he was on his way out. Little did he know Who the King was the wise men were asking about.

But take notice of the wise men’s action. They didn’t back down. They didn’t bow out. They waited for an answer to their question. King Herod had to summon the Jewish leadership so they could give the wise men the answer they needed. The wise men graciously accepted the answer and went on their way.

We might find a lesson in the actions of the wise men. Just because others may think we have lost our mind, if we know we are in the right, we need to stand our ground. Now, having said that, we need to be sure we are right. The wise men had heard at least some of the prophecies. We know some of the Bible. When we hear someone else make a misstatement, we should correct them with love and kindness. If we seek an answer from someone who is learned, we should wait for the answer—don’t give up but wait patiently. We may just find what we are looking for, just like the wise men.

I pray we all seek to know God’s Word. I pray we ask questions and wait for answers. I pray we stand our ground when we are sure we are right. Know God’s Word. Seek answers. Ask questions. Wait patiently. Stand your ground. Be sure of being right.

Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Be Second

Have you been the town crier? Have you ever been the forerunner for someone else? Have you been the one who was telling everyone that someone more important than you was coming? Have you tried to put yourself in the shoes of John the Baptist?

Being the person who announces someone more important than themselves is coming is not an easy job. It requires the person to put themselves in second place. That is very hard for us, as Americans, to do. We want to win at all times. We want to be first.

Today’s culture, especially advertising agencies, do all they can to impress upon us that we should put ourselves first. We compete on so many different levels we cannot begin to count them all. We compete in beauty contests, even when simply going to a basketball game. We compete in how bad something happened to us. We compete in how good we are at something. We even compete within the church.

Perhaps we all could take a lesson from John the Baptist. He was doing what he was called to do. He was preparing the way for Jesus. He did his job well. But he knew, and freely admitted, there was someone coming who was greater than him. He didn’t try to put himself in the limelight. He didn’t try to compete with Jesus. In fact, he attempted to avoid any attention given to him.

Putting ourselves second is not easy. It requires us to admit we are not as important as we would like to think we are. It requires us to submit to God and simply be a tool he uses. It requires us to set our pride aside and do what we are called to do. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I pray we all submit to God and his plan for us. I pray we admit we are not as important as we think. I pray each one of us stops competing to be the top dog and simply do what God wants us to do. Submit to God. Be willing to carry out his plan. Stop competing. Start doing. Be second.

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”