Good Job Joe Boy

Matthew 3:13-17

The last football game that my Dad ever saw me play I wanted to make him proud. It was my senior year of high school, but my parents were moving to Kentucky while I stayed in Michigan. This was it; my final chance to win his approval; to make him proud. My last chance to hear him say, “Good job Joe Boy”.

With those four words he could have sent me on my way ready to tear down walls. After all, this was going to be a big change for me. I wouldn’t be living with my parents anymore. The people who had raised me, provided for me and made my life secure were moving, leaving me behind. Fear, insecurity and the anxiety of the unknown all waited for me like a dark closet in my bedroom.

Imagine how Jesus might have felt as he approached his cousin John about baptizing him. He was about to set out on his earthly ministry. We don’t know how much of the specifics Jesus knew of what awaited him, but for sure he had at least an inclination that a painful, sacrificial death would end his life. That by itself, would be more than enough for fear, insecurity and anxiety to stop him in his tracks.

 ^16-17 “The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”                       MSG

With these words, God affirmed His son. He gave Jesus the strength and courage to go forward. He gave him the love and affirmation to face an unknown future that promised to hold both miraculous events and painful ones. He lifted Jesus up to prepare him for three years of high-intensity spiritual battles.

I never heard my Dad say those words to me: “Good job Joe Boy”. But every time that I read God’s word, He says them to me. Every year when I celebrate the birth of His son, He says them to me. Every Easter when I remember the risen Christ, He says them to me. Every worship song that I sing, He says them to me.

 He says the same message to you. “You are my Son, my daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” By saying this, He gives you the courage and strength to face your fears, insecurities and anxiety of an unknown future.

From Rejection to Acceptance

1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG)  But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—  from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

As a child I hated gym class.  There were a number of reasons but probably the one that stands out the most is waiting to be chosen for a team.  When we would be learning a new sport, basketball for instance, the leaders of the team chose who they wanted on their side.  While it may sound like a pity party, I was not anyone's first choice, nor second, third...you get the picture.

We can't all be first on someone's list of preferred teammates.  To be perfectly honest, if my pride wasn't so heavily involved, I would have been perfectly content to side on the sidelines and watch the game from that perspective. Looking back it seems so silly to have placed my self-worth on the line with being picked first. As an adult there are other things I attach to my self-image.  But I recognize they are the idols of my adulthood.

As I read from 1 Peter 2 and come across the line, you are the ones chosen by God, I take my breath in. Chosen by God, what does that mean?  Finally, a team I can play on that needs me, but it isn't play but work. What does it mean, to do his work and speak out for him? I was chosen, not for my own accomplishments.  The only thing I did was choose which team to play on.

Which team is recruiting your gifts?  Which team has drafted you, chosen you to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you?

1 Peter 2