Luke 3:1-14 - Voices

Voices

“… [There was] a voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1-14, ESV)

There are a lot of voices crying for our attention these days. Some voices are exotic, enticing, entrancing and captivating. They encourage us to follow, to make choices so life will be better or the thrill becomes greater. Some voices lure us into other temptation; others alert us to other problems and dangers.

Some voices we might like to listen to, like the soft voice of a comforting mother, the reassuring voice of a counselor, the happy voice of a friend or the voice of a son or daughter just returning home.

We don’t always know what to make of the variety of voices and their messages. Some are very exciting and enlightening, some convincing and others confusing.

In our text we hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness. John’s voice was a new voice, an unusual voice in an unusual place with an unusual message. Was it to be listened to or questioned?

John the Baptist was the first to come with encouragements to pay attention, to prepare for the coming of Christ and His Kingdom. Of all the messages ever presented, his message is the one that really counts.

The Advent season is designed for us to take another listen to the voice of John crying in the wilderness and to take another listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus: “I am the way, the truth and the life. Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come follow me. Whoever believes in me will not perish but have eternal life.”

Advent is a time to have a new point of origin, a new point of purpose for our present, and a renewed focus on our destination for the future.

O Holy Spirit, help us to take time to listen to and focus on the right messages this Advent season. Prepare our hearts and minds to listen and believe, our lives to be of service in Christ’s Kingdom. Amen.

- Rev. Layton L. Lemke (Ret.), Former Board Member and Volunteer, Norwood Young America, Minnesota