Advent: Seeing God - Friday, December 13

And John, calling to two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Luke 7:19

John the Baptist heard the Word of God in his life. His parents had heard God speak and would raise him confirming the Word in his life. He would be the one to prepare the way of the Lord. He was to be the voice crying in the wilderness (Malachi 3). He was absolutely sure who God was and what his purpose in life would be.

And yet, John's world is rocked! In this part of the Gospel of Luke, everything he thought he knew, everything he thought he could see and know about God, was shaken to the core. John is in prison. Soon, he will lose his head. There is suffering and oppression in the land. Didn’t he come to save his people? Did he fail?

I wonder how many times, in serving the hurt, the lost, the broken, have we heard similar questions? Where was God when we needed him? How could a loving God have allowed this to happen? This is particularly true in Native ministry.

Our earthly wisdom cannot comprehend God's ways.

Isaiah hears the Lord speak these words, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my way.” John's thoughts were not Jesus' thoughts. John's way was not Jesus' way. The same is true for us.

But one thing we can know, everything points to Jesus. He didn't come in the way they thought he would - in a blaze of strength and glory! Instead, He would come in weakness, suffering, and death to save us from our sins. He would come in meekness and love to give his life for ours.

Seeing God requires us to see Jesus from his humble beginning in a manger to his suffering on a cross.

Lord, we pray that you would continue to show yourself to us through the suffering and triumph that you accomplished for us as you were lifted up on the cross. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Rev. Dave Sternbeck (Nuu-Chah-Nulth)
Port Angeles, Washington

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Advent: Joyful Service - Sunday, December 15

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Advent: He is Able -Thursday, December 12