Day 3 - Oddballs

Day 3: Matthew 3

ODDBALLS

Read Matthew 3 first here

There are some strange people out there. I know, I had 2 of them as best men at my wedding. One texts me from Oxford asking for advice as he's blocked the toilet in Starbucks (more than once) and the other is one of the oldest friends I have. He once proposed to his girlfriend (now wife) for a joke, and he made his real proposal moments after a dog had gone to the toilet on her leg. Nice work.

There’s plenty of odd stuff in the Bible as well. A character who’s ‘out there’ is John the Baptist. As I read Matthew 3, I stopped and questioned what I'd make of John if I was there. Here's a man in a desert, eating insects and shouting repent. My instinct tells me I'd shy away, finding it too weird. It wouldn't fit into my British understanding of Christianity. I struggle with things that I find unusual.

Here, John is visited by the Pharisees. They're there to look in and see what is threatening their authority. They come to John and are left with no doubt about his feelings for them. He's not interested in their power or authority, and sends them packing. He is forceful, angry, and passionate. The Pharisees want rules that they can follow, that separate the 'good' and 'bad'. Part of me finds it much easier to be a bit like that at times. I'm happier with things I can control. Learning to accept grace is the single most life-changing lesson I have ever learned, but I find myself often being tempted to slip down the route of reducing God to a set of choices and rules to follow, rather than an intimate, passionate relationship.

Next, Jesus comes to John. He doesn't come to rebuke him or calm him down. He comes to be baptised by him. The man who appears to be 'out there' ends up baptising Jesus. Jesus takes a man shunned by the established religion and gives his ministry the ultimate seal of approval. In 21st century Britain, it's vital that we don't let our cynicism take hold. There are plenty of things that I too easily dismiss as a bit ‘weird’, or I ignore the message because I struggle with the messenger. I know that as I shut myself off in this way, I miss what God may have to say to me.

It is vital that we look beyond the methods that people use to communicate, to the heart of the message. As we do this with John, we see the heart of the message that we need. We find the truth, words that set people free. I love what John the Baptist says. He declares the need for a radical change in lifestyle. He knows people need to return to God. He knows that Jesus is much greater than he will ever be. Our message needs to be no different. We must be humble, letting Jesus take centre stage.

To follow God, our minds have to be open to things that we may find uncomfortable. We have a God who cannot fit in our boxes of understanding. He sent fire from heaven, He turned water to wine, He cast out demons, He raised the dead and did many more things that I absolutely believe. I completely believe these things, but if I was to see them, I know I’d be a bit freaked out.

I know that as I carry the name of Jesus, I need to be open to the things that I don't understand at times. We worship a God who never wanted to be comfortable or nice, but who wanted to transform our lives, filling us with His Spirit. I'm so glad that we will never have God all figured out, that He will always be too much for us.

Some of the most significant times have my life have involved people speaking things that can have only come from God which have blown me away. These things come from having such closeness with God that He speaks directly into our hearts. These are things that go beyond conventional wisdom. If we are to be people led by the Holy Spirit, then it may open some stuff that we initially find a bit 'weird'.

Today, try to look at areas where we’ve struggled to hand over full control to God. Do we feel happier with the idea of a safe, comfortable God? If so, let’s pray that we are open to His Spirit, to let Him have his way in our lives so that we may be continually transformed, day by day.