Prepare the Way of the Lord   (Return to Sermon Page)       

December 9, 2007

Isaiah 11:1-10        

Matt. 3: 1-12

          When someone says, “Company’s coming!”  What do you do? 

Most of us set to work straightening the house; closing certain doors;

Stuffing dirty clothes or dirty dishes out of sight.

But in Bible times, when people heard that someone important was coming to their village, they would go out and prepare the road; potholes would be filled in;

debris picked up, the way made clear.

So when John says “The Messiah is coming! Prepare the way!” his hearers had an idea of what he’s talking about, but then he says: don’t go out and mend the roads,

mend your hearts; clear away the obstacles to God’s way in your life.

Last week, I spoke of some ways we might do that as individuals through

prayer, intentional time apart; devotions, worship, giving time, or money. 

John Wesley would call these acts of piety: some public and some private acts. 

These practices of faith have sustained and led pilgrims for ages.

They will keep us centered too, through a very confusing time. 

But acts of piety are only half of the work of preparation.

If intentional efforts to deepen our spiritual life doesn’t lead us out of our own little world to action in the larger world, then so what?

Ritual that has lost connection with the rest of the world is disconnected from the realm where Christ is at work.  

New life, God in Christ will not wait for us if we have our eyes shut.

Both John the Baptist and Isaiah are speaking to their world as a whole. 

The Messiah is coming—not just for you and me, but for the world.

They envisioned a time, when not only hearts are changed,

but the quality of life has changed. 

Here is an assumption we may not have thought about. 

When we live right, the world is a better place. 

It is an old Biblical idea that we cannot grow deeper in the love of God

and fail to effect our community as well.

Hear John the Baptist:

          the Messiah is coming, are you going to greet the Almighty with a mess?

Has it occurred to you that the conditions of our city, the state of our nation

might be a reflection of our faithfulness?       

  John Wesley understood this.  He organized his societies not only for discussions on the state of one’s soul but also for action.  He taught that acts of justice and acts of mercy were the balance to the acts of devotion and piety. 

He lived it personally, saving every penny to feed the imprisoned, caring for the least and the lost and organizing those willing to join him everywhere he went. 

His people have been about social reform ever since.

Who are the lions and the lambs of our day?  Where could the aggressive and the gentle live peacefully, no longer fighting for territory or superiority?

What are the powers and principalities that need to be addressed in our day? 

How do we—as a church—need to be relevant in this town, in this day?

I’m not talking about buying into the latest religious fad or being like someone else. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about that other church in town that is growing daily.

It’s scary how attractive they are; some of our friends go there.

They appear to be very relevant, to meet some hungering that is out there.

What’s so scary?  That they might out do us?  They might steal all our members?

There is only One we have to please.

There is only One with whom we need to find favor: Christ the Lord.

When the Messiah comes,

the question is not going to be ‘are you as good as the other guys?’

You know the questions don’t you?

                   Have you fed my sheep?  Did you visit me in jail? 

Did you clothe me and give me shelter?  Did you comfort me when I was sick?

                   Do you love my people?

Being relevant means addressing the right now needs of real people.

What needs healed?  What needs corrected?  What is out of joint in our society?

What do we need to be talking about and working on together? 

Because the Messiah is coming. 

That is the good news for you with broken hearts

          For you with financial problems

          For you worried about your teenagers or young adults

          For you looking for a job

          For you who are over you head in whatever way.

For the rest of us, we have been urged to get our act together.

What is it we have to get out of the way to see and hear and act on God’s grace?

          Maybe we have to wake up and realize that we have fallen asleep.

Maybe we have to prepare by being able to name and talk about the issues.

The time of hiding our thoughts because we don’t like politics

or we don’t want to give offense better be over.

Maybe we have to move from what is familiar and comfortable to uncharted waters

I don’t want you to think I am being critical or downplaying anything you do. 

It’s more that we know so well what we do; we’ve got the routine down.

What have we forgotten all about or don’t see any more? 

Isaiah’s vision of a society at peace, where enemies become friends,

where there is no poverty or unhealthy competition,

where all the people are healthy and sheltered and justice reigns,

speaks to our deepest hearts.

Come, Lord Jesus, let your love reign. 

Heal our hearts that your saving grace might renew our spirits and your ways

be our ways now and forever.