Devotion: The Prophet Calls

“… the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 
‘Prepare the way of the Lord’” 
Mark 1:3

I am a sucker for sappy commercials. For as emotionally tough as people tell me I am (I work with several “sympathetic cryers”), Rose will tell you that I cry during movies and even at a touching commercial. I find it amazing that it only takes 30 seconds for my eyes to become teary. In my sermon this past weekend, I showed two old commercials from Folgers Coffee. The first is from the late 1980s entitled, “Peter’s Homecoming.” It showed a college kid come home in the early morning hours of Christmas day, only to wake his adoring family with the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As a kid who was alone in the process of going off to college, Peter had the type of homecoming I always wished I had, but never received. That commercial gets me every time!  

So successful was Peter’s Homecoming that they remade it 20 years later, but this time with a twist. Peter’s sister meets him at the door and she has made the coffee for him. He gives her a small gift, which she receives but she takes off the bow on the box and puts it on his shoulder. When he questions her about that, she poignantly says, “You are my gift this year.” Again. Tears every time. I would invite you to watch these commercials and see for yourself. 

These commercials sold a lot of coffee. And I write in the darkness of a cold morning, drinking my morning coffee as I write. Ahh…  

The season Advent is a season of preparations. It may be a stretch, but Advent is somewhat like the routine of making coffee for the family. I understand that some don’t drink coffee, but for those of us who do, coffee has somewhat of a special, important place. It is also that which brings us together. During the Advent season, we prepare for our family gatherings and the beauty of Christmas morning.  

The prophet Isaiah announced much of the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth, including the prediction that one would come before him. This month we will hear Isaiah’s words in our series, “The Prophets Call.” Isaiah predicted John the Baptist would announce Jesus as the Messiah, and he would call us to prepare ourselves. It is here where the evolving nature of Christmas has gotten off track. We spend a lot time preparing, but we spend less time preparing ourselves. In fact, we spend so much time preparing our homes, gifts and meals, that we actually are often less emotionally prepared for the ones we love.  

My friends, one of the greatest acts of faith you can endeavor in this Christmas is to realize that you are a gift to those who love you – to those whom you love. I ask that you consider this in the midst of your preparations. Do you believe you have the capability to be a “gift” to others? If so, why not prepare yourself to be a gift of love? If you do not believe this, can you muster the faith that God can make a gift of love?  

I am guessing someone you love would long to be able to say to you, “you are my gift.” Prepare yourself to live as the gift they wish you to be… and the gift God wishes for you to be to the world.

Gracious God, open us up to your power in our lives. As we prepare for Christmas during this Advent season, help us to equally prepare our hearts, so that we may be a gift of love. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier

Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey which has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team. Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.