On this second Monday of Advent,
we are well on the path where we are preparing to receive Christ anew this
season. It seems a great distance to Christ[‘s] death on the cross. Yet, most
of us are well aware of the sacrifice to be made by Christ, to be killed as the
Pascal Lamb at Passover.
This passage from Acts places us
in the time of the first Pentecost. Many were immediately convicted by the
Gospel story. Those first Christian converts felt the responsibility while
considering Jesus’ passion – his sacrificial death on their behalf. So much so,
they asked Peter and the other disciples, “What should we do?”
Peter said, “Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be
forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” That day three
thousand were baptized, and added to the church.
We may wonder if this Gospel
promise is for us? Is it for our family? Is it for us all? Peter tells those
early seekers, it is for “everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Who can we doubt who he calls?
The passion story leaves no one unchanged who enters into understanding the
details of what Jesus was doing, and realizes the personal sacrifice Jesus made
was not self-serving but was for you and me. The object of Jesus’ action was
for everyone but himself.
This message is personal. This
call is for you.
How will you answer this call?
Pastor Matt Gary, Wheeler & Allison
UMC’s;
Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist
Church
[1]
During
this blessed season of Advent we will enjoy together daily devotions which are
shared by Local Pastors and Associate Members of the United Methodist Church
from around the United States. I
had the privilege of participating in this project, and look forward to sharing
these daily uplifting thoughts with you over the season from now (Thanksgiving)
to January 1st. Each author will be
identified, and we thank them in advance for each contribution.
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