John 1:19-28

John 1:19-28 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not. “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Mark 1:2-8 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Few of us understand our mission in life as clearly as John understood his divine assignment to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. His repentance message instigated a great revival in Israel, even King Herod desired an audience with him. Many ventured out into the wilderness to hear John preach, and he baptized many of these followers in water, symbolizing turning away from sin and giving their lives to God. John's teaching also sparked interest from the religious leaders of that day who journeyed out to the wilderness to question him about the source of his authority to teach the people. John responded to their questioning by saying: I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord. He knew who he was: he knew his mission in life.

Do you know who you are in Christ and do you understand your mission in his body, the church? Paul told believers: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) God gives each of us a calling in life that oftentimes takes several pathways in serving God with the gifts He expects us to use for him. I imagine our specific calling is not to attend church once a week and then live our lives as we desire. Paul describes the body as made up of many parts or members: apostles, ministers, teachers, helpers, administrators; and of course, ushers, greeters, cooks, janitors, gardeners, muscians, singers, nursery attendants, coffee makers, and more. A well-functioning church is made up of many willing people fulfilling those roles. However, we sometimes see a small group of committed servants fulfilling most of the needs of the church while the rest attend the services or special events with little thought of the work involved. Each of us possesses at least one special gifting from the Holy Spirit: I challenge you to use your talents: you will bless the Lord and the body with your obedience. Some have received spiritual gifts as well: wisdom, discernment, tongues, interpretation, or a word of knowledge, encouragement, or edification for the church or for an individual. The Holy Spirit wants to empower us to use these gifts rather than locking them up in our souls. All roles and giftings are for God's glory. As the body of Christ, working together in love, we reflect the God of the universe to the world.

We are not meant to be church consumers: jumping from one church to the next on a fleshly whim, looking for the best product: the church that "meets my needs better" or "has more programs to offer my family." As mature disciples of Christ, God wants us to work and to grow where He needs our gifts and talents to reach others. He wants active and joyful contributors, happily fulfilling our roles in the body of Christ where He has planted us. A friend at my own church was talking with someone who was leaving for one of the above reasons. She stated firmly, "God called me to this church, to support the pastors, to work hard for the Lord regardless. He planted me here and I am so rooted that only He could transplant me somewhere else to do his work." John went the wilderness, a desolate place, planted there by God. Are we willing to be planted by God in a small community, a tiny church, a small prayer group, an intimate Bible study? Wherever you are, you should know your prescribed role in the body of Christ as well as John did. If you become an active participant in that body, not just expecting the pastor(s) to fulfill your needs, you will mature and grow up in your faith. You will stop spending so much time on your problems and look to the wounded and broken around you. If you begin helping, feeding, praying, blessing, and encouraging others, God will mightily bless you and increase your peace and joy in the Lord. Together, we minister God's love to the world and advance his kingdom. Praise God for such a privilege!