Baptism of the Lord: Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 40:25-31

I wonder why the youths faint and grow weary, while those that wait upon the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles. Could it be that when we do not wait upon Him, we waste all our time and energy fretting about, worried about things we can't control, tightly wound, too busy to stop and pray. And then, when we have run around worried, planning, scheming, fussing, and it gets time to do what we are called to, we can't because we are too tired.

But, those that wait upon the Lord are patient. They know that everything works in its due time. They know that the Lord is at work, even in the darkest and most hopeless situations. They know that even though the water is rising, worry does no good. Wait upon the Lord. He will make a way.

Today, you can worry about every little thing. You can run around for no reason. Or, you can wait upon the Lord. In waiting, we find the way. In needless running, we simply grow tired.

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 1:15-23

We see a similar thought in this passage. Paul talks about the eyes of our hearts being opened. This world tells us to look not with these eyes, not the eyes of faith or the eyes of God's truth, simply look with the eyes where we see what it. Not, what can be. God tells us to look deeper. To hope deeper. To trust deeper. Not just to look with our eyes, look with the eyes of our heart. Our eyes may tell us we have troubles, the eyes of our heart tell us that God is not do. Our eyes may tell us there is no hope, the eyes of our heart tell us that God is not done.

This passage reminds us as well that the church is not mine. It is not yours. It is Jesus'. It is His body. It is His church. Are we operating our church in a way that gives Him glory? That serves His purpose? That does His ministry? Read the Gospels and see how Jesus lived. Then, look at your church. Are we being who we are called to be?

Gospel Lesson

Mark 1:14-28

We see in this passage, Jesus drew people to Him. First, the disciples, and then those that heard Him preach. There was something about Him that was new, that was powerful, that was alive, that was full of hope and glory and mercy. There was something about Him that lead others to want to be around Him. That lead them to want to follow Him. That caused others to leave behind all that they had to follow.

Is there something in your that causes others to want to follow your Jesus? Remember, we are the body, and we are to be leading others to Him. Are we living in a way that draws others to Him? Or does our life, our words, our actions cause others to think, "if that's a Christian, I want nothing to do with it."

Jesus draws people to Him. Do we, through the power of His Spirit, draw people to Him? That is our mission.