Green

Luke 3:1-9 (The Message)

In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah's son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God.

He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:

Thunder in the desert!

"Prepare God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,

The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.

Everyone will be there to see
The parade of God's salvation."

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded:

"Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment?

It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen.

God can make children from stones if he wants.

What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

There's a "snowball" bush at the Ranch (SOTH's house that holds our offices/youth room/conference room, etc.) that really needs to be pruned.

Now, I don't know the scientific name, and I'm pretty sure it's not "snowball," but I know that's what my grandmama would call it and that's good enough for me.

A couple of summers ago, it had grown spindly and unhealthy. I couldn't resist cutting it back. One day before heading home from the office, the bush had a date with my "loppers."

Pruning was the best thing that ever happened to it. The next spring, the blooms were incredible. It was laden with new growth.

This year, I've noticed an interesting thing about the plant.

It's not blooming nearly so well. In fact, it has a lot of dead wood.

Probably half the canes that emerge from the plant's base are dead and dried up. Some of the living ones don't produce any leaves or blooms until the very top.

It seems that John's advice works for gardening and our souls.

"What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire."

John had a message that was urgent...a message that mattered.

He didn't have time for pretense, or pretenders. We can't claim lineage. We can't rely on status or social roles to make us right with God.

God can create status out of stones.

It's the heart that matters. The heart that gives birth to life. Green, blossoming life comes from one place...connection to our source, our Father...the message that Jesus came to proclaim.

The goal is to be honest with God, and let him prune everything else.

Prayer: We are trying to hear John's message, and make it real in our lives. Make us holy...set apart...connected to you...green and blooming. May your consuming fire burn up the dead places in our lives.

See you at SOTH for worship this Sunday! 9 & 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15. And, prayers for our youth who will participate in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine this weekend.