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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
-Luke 3:4-6
As we continue our journey in Advent, we are reminded of John the Forerunner this Sunday. Also known as John the Baptist, he preached repentance and when asked about what to do specifically, he told a crowd to share. He told tax collectors to be honest in their jobs, and he told soldiers to not use threats to extol money from others and to be content with the money they received for their service. While he was only really telling people to do what was moral and right, it must’ve been an unexpected answer if they had to ask!
This past Tuesday was the deadline for gifts to be dropped off at the church for anyone who adopted an Angel for the Salvation Army Angel Tree. This wonderful ministry is a way to give children and seniors in need presents on Christmas when they might otherwise not get any gifts. Looking through some of the items that these children or seniors need, I can hardly imagine being in a situation where I couldn’t purchase sheets for my bed or socks and shoes for myself, and yet there are so many people in our communities, country, and world who cannot even afford the very basics of life that we take for granted.
John was preaching about this very thing:
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” – Luke 1:10-11
The Angel Tree is just one way in which those of us with “two tunics” can share with those who have none. Are there other, less obvious ways to apply this to our lives? Have you ever felt called to help in some way, but then decided to wait until your finances were better or you had more time? I know I have. It’s easy to want to help others but a desire to help those in need doesn’t get the job done. As we worship this Sunday and spend another week waiting for the birth of our long-awaited Savior, take the Forerunner’s message to heart and find a way to share a “tunic” with someone in need.
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