Set the Stage

"John announced: 'Someone is coming soon who is greater than I -- so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.'" Mark 1:1-8

As the whistle sounded for the start of the first soccer game on the first gameday, my mind whirled with all that had had to happen to make this possible. It took months of preparation, countless volunteer hours, gracious monetary donations and incredibly talented small business owners who all rallied together to clear rocks, provide electricity, plant, water, weed and feed, and mow our way to three beautiful acres of sports fields. A recreational Christ-centered youth sports ministry was expanded to outdoor sports introducing thousands of more children to Jesus.

Preparing the way for something or someone is a huge deal, especially if that someone is Jesus. John the Baptist was his stage setter. He plowed up the hard hearts and inspired the discouraged hearts with powerful words of warning and encouragement. "Turn away from your sins!" "Someone is coming soon and he is a much bigger deal than me." People responded by the busloads. They confessed their sins. They were baptized. They were eagerly waiting for Jesus to arrive on the scene. Then, just like John said, Jesus showed up and all heaven broke loose.

As amazing as it sounds, the Lord is still calling all of us who believe in Jesus to be stage setters today. We don't have to wear coarse camel hair or eat honey-covered grasshoppers, but we are called to be ambassadors. Jesus is coming. Every day we move one day closer to his arrival and everyone will stand before him, ready or not. There's no such thing as an undercover ambassador. Nope. We have to make a little bit of noise and the most powerful sound of all is Christ's love in action.

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