I want to start off by asking a question; what does it mean to be sent?
We see starting in verse 6 that God sent John. We learn a very powerful truth with that statement. God is a God that sends! Just looking at the book of Genesis we see that this is something that God tends to like to do. God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden; God sent Abram out of the land of Ur to Canaan, God sent Joseph to Egypt and many others. Then we also look at some New Testament cats too; starting with John the Baptist (who we read about now in Verses 6-9), Paul who God had sent everywhere it seems and lastly and the most greatest: God sent Himself as Jesus into the world for the sole purpose to bring a fallen people to himself! Our God is a sending God!
People are not typically sent without cause or reason, there is a purpose to them being sent; we see John's purpose for being sent in verse 7 and 8 John has been sent to tell. In Romans 10:17 it says this "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." We are all called to tell. In Titus Paul tells Titus to do the work of an evangelist. Granted not all of us are Bill Graham, some of us may not even be good preachers; but we do all need to know the story. This is it; You are separated from God because you are a sinner. There is nothing that you can do to become right with God, so God in his great grace came to earth as a man, died paying the perfect sacrifice atoning for you sin and mine. It is nothing that we can do but it is a gift from God. In verse 8 we see something that i think we need to take note on. John was not the light but simply a witness. Some times we may think that we are great because of what we are sent to do. God can do it all with out you, the message is more important that the one who bring the message. Our words and our message have meaning (even though some in the post modern crowd think otherwise), words are powerful forms to get across a message; God used them to create the universe! Our God is a sending God who sends us to tell!
Lastly looking at verse 9, God was coming into the world. God stepped into creation to reconcile us to him, forever changing the course of history. This should remind us constantly that Jesus is coming back, and when he does come back he is coming as a conquering king. To see what it is going to look like look at Revelations 19.
Here are some question to reflect and pray about:
1. Where is God sending you?
2. What message are you going to bring to them or what message are you bring now? Is it the message of the God, is it the Gospel?
Grace and Peace,
2 comments:
Good job, Antonio. Our notes have a lot of similarties.(were you stealing my notes :).
Verse 6 I liked how God shows us what leadership is. Great leaders are always known for not just telling the way or pointing the way, but actually showing the way. God showed us how to lead by actually sending us His Son.
Verse 7 & 8 is a great reminder of about God's personality. It reminds me of a verse in 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
God doesn't close His eyes and randomly pick a spot and say " that is where you should go." Way comforting to know He makes great decisions about where to send us!
Vs 9. I think of all the other religions that can't say, My god is coming back. I don't doubt that He may not come back. I look in anticipation for Christ return!
great message brother antonio... i think you are being sent to be a blogger! haha!
your words are wise ones to remember and live by... this world is not our home, no point in getting too comfortable in any one place (or profession huh?)
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