The Messenger (Advent Devotion) - Friday, December 7
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' (Mark 1:1-3 NIV)
As I walk the Haskell Indians Nation University, I am struck with an urgency to share the Gospel with the students. I’m convicted with the responsibility that I am that messenger who is to go and tell these young adults about the hope I possess.
So many of the students on the Haskell campus have been living in a wilderness that feels hopeless. They are coming out of alcoholic, abusive, and neglectful homes. Jesus did not only come to offer us salvation but to lead and guide us out of that wilderness of hopelessness.
The stories I hear from students on campus can be heart-wrenching, but there is no story that has surprised me, yet. God has allowed me to go through some of the same things in order that I might help and be able to SHOW them the source of hope we find in Jesus Christ.
We live in a broken and sinful world, just have a conversation from a person living on a reservation and it will be clear. I know there is no other hope for my people than the one who wrapped himself in human flesh and lived a perfect life. He proved to be our Savior, and the Savior for my people.
This Advent, and into the next year, be the messenger, with urgency, telling people why you possess hope.
Lord God, thank you for sending your Son to this corrupt world, not only to save us from an eternity in hell but to give us peace and hope while on this earth. Give us your power to be your messengers of salvation and hope. In Jesus' name, Amen.