Listen and Serve

When Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, no one was more surprised than John. John expects and desires to be baptized by Jesus. But John listens and obeys, and becomes part of Jesus’s great salvation story.

But at the time, John’s ministry was really making a big scene down at the Jordan. Even though he was a locust-eating, animal-skin-wearing, wild-hair-yelling prophet, people were flocking to him. People came from all walks of life and he gave them hope of a Messiah to come, one coming soon! He was like the superstar preacher in Houston but without the great smile, perfect hair, and expensive suit. And of course, John lived out in a cave in the wilderness, not in multiple mansions with cars and personal jet planes. John also never preached God wants you rich. John preached to change your life, treat people right, and help others whenever you can.

Even though he had become a local celebrity with people coming all the way from Jerusalem to see and hear him, John is willing, even desiring, to give up the spotlight and be baptized by Jesus. It is written that John is moved by the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

Besides being one of the most colorful characters in the Bible, John is exceptional in human history in that he is willing to listen and do as asked, even though it is not what he expected and he is disappointed. For one quick moment, John resists Jesus’ request to baptize him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you and you come to me?” But John does listen to Jesus and he does what Jesus wants, not what he wants. He listens and serves.

Frankly, I think listening and serving are uncommon in most of our conversations with God. We don’t always like to listen, especially if we aren’t fond of what we hear.

How much do we miss when most of our prayer time is spent telling God what we know needs to happen and not what the Holy Spirit is telling us needs to happen, especially in our own lives? John Wesley understood this and encouraged the people called Methodists to pray often, listen, and serve. Wesley also encouraged us to gather and pray what has been named the covenant prayer. It is not such an easy prayer to pray. It is about God and serving God and not so much about what we want from God. It can help move us closer to God in our spiritual walk and daily life. Even when we fail to live up to the prayer’s potent words, God invites us to continue in this life-changing walk, for our good and the good of His world. Like Baptism, it reminds us to whom we belong and serve.

On Sunday, we will recite together the Wesley covenant prayer and remember our own baptism and the call God has put on our hearts and souls. It is the beginning of the calendar year and a perfect time to listen and let God set some of our goals. I think we may just be surprised by the difference it makes.

Later, in the Gospel of Matthew 17:5, we read how the Lord spoke to some of the disciples, thus to us. “While he [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, this is my Son, the Beloved; with him, I am well pleased; listen to him!”

Read over the prayer below, have the courage to pray the words, and remember, you have been baptized into the universal church of Christ.

May the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Pastor Rick

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A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

(page 607 in the United Methodist Hymnal)

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. AMEN.

Remember Your Baptism

As we remember our baptism, we are reminded that we are both committed and belong to Christ Jesus. We rejoice in that His Holy Spirit lives in our souls, teaching and leading us in our walk with Christ. Allow His Spirit to convict and empower you daily.