The 3rd Advent Sunday, 2021: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 3:7-18
Podcast Message: Expectation vs Contentment
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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Happy Advent. It is the 3rd Sunday of Advent.
My husband and I love hiking. Whenever the weather is decent enough on our days off, we pack our lunch, fruit, water and some snacks for our hikes. On our way from home to a trailhead, I like seeing clouds in various shapes and sizes, the sunlight shining through the clouds, and wondering what I will see on a trail. I know that not all hikes will reward me with a breathtaking sea of clouds, but I always look forward to a beautiful lake view or a spectacular mountain top view. If there aren't any, I expect to see colorful mushrooms or some forest creatures. A bear! Maybe! Or probably not!
About two months ago, we hiked both the Guye Peak and Cave Ridge trails on our day-off. Along the trail to the top, all the colors of the tree leaves were incredibly beautiful. Nature seems to take its own course well in between each season every year, especially trees. During the season of fall before the cold winter comes, tree leaves begin to turn different colors. We all know that the main purpose of leaves is to turn sunlight into food for trees. When they no longer fulfill their purpose, trees have to let them go. Leaves fall off so that trees can survive the winter.
The passage in the gospel of Luke, chapter 3:7-18, says that those who came to John to be baptized asked the same question three times, “What should we do to see the salvation of God?” So, what does salvation mean? It means having a right relationship with God AND WITH one another through Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God. Based on John’s response, in order to see and experience this gift from God, we need to be content with who we are and what we have, and share our abundant lives with those in need. Seeing or experiencing ‘God’s salvation’ is to be content not greedy, to share not hoard.
What are your expectations that are not life-giving but lead you to disappointment, discontentment, or discouragement? By knowing that God is in your midst, rejoicing over you with gladness and renewing you in His love as it says in Zephaniah 3:17, what are your plans to let those expectations fall off your life, the life God has given to you to enjoy and celebrate?
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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