Reed Mueller

John the Baptist is an interesting guy (and not because he lived in the desert, dressed in itchy garb, and ate locusts). He was interesting for other, more important, reasons. In one sense, he was the very first witness to the coming of the Messiah, leaping in his mother’s womb when Mary, Jesus’ mother, entered into his midst (Luke 1:41). But he was not only special from the beginning because he recognized something remarkable about Jesus very early on, he was special because God had a specific, and very important, role for him to play in God’s unfolding story of redemption.

Since before his conception, the plan of God for John’s life had been set. He was to be born into a family that had been childless for so long that it should not have been possible for his mother and father to conceive (Luke 1:7,13). Not only that, but an angel informed his parents that John was to be a great prophet who prepare the way for the coming of the long awaited Christ. He was to be the one who would call his people to repent in advance of the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:14-17). What a life of promise laid out before his parents since before the day he was born.

What it must have been like to grow up in the shadow of such a promise! Imagine being told, as John probably was, that God had a special role for him in his life. Imagine being John, knowing that you would be used by God to bring a nation back to God, and not only that, but to do this in order to reveal to them their long awaited Messiah. Imagine all this and then read these words:

And John the Baptist grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Luke 1:80 (ESV)

As it implies in that verse, John, having already waited three decades to fulfill his role… waited some more. He went into the wilderness, knowing all that he knew about his role, and waited until the day of his public appearance. In other words, he waited until he was prompted by God at just the right time to begin his ministry. John spent his whole life preparing for the moment God would use him most. This is not to say that God was not with him when he wasn’t “using him most” but rather that God was with him in the quiet and lonely times preparing him – as John would let him – for the moment he would be needed most in the kingdom.

How are we at waiting?

Sometimes in life we wonder where the heck God is and what the heck God is doing. We wonder why we’re not playing a larger role in the kingdom. In light of John’s life, could it be that God knows what he’s doing and will in time set his plan for our lives in motion? Could it be that God has us in a less public role precisely so we can prepare for the moment we’re needed in the game? We practice, we grow, we become faithful in the wilderness in order to be ready to launch into action at just the moment God needs us to. These times could occur when we’re called to share our faith, to parent a difficult teen, to serve our neighbor in a remarkably giving way, to lead a group or mission trip, to lead a church or a movement, or in a myriad of other ways.
Whatever our role is we must faithfully wait on the Lord in wilderness in order to be ready for the tasks he will call us to in public. Just like John, who was faithful in the desert before he was active in public, we should wait upon the Lord. This is easy to say, but so difficult to apply (at least for me). Yet, even though it’s difficult and we often feel like we’re spinning our wheels, our desert times can prepare us for the moments God calls us to appear publically for him.

Lord, sometimes we are frustrated by the degree of influence you have granted us. We know that this is not your fault, but rather a reflection of your plan. Prepare us for our roles by helping us to seek you in our ‘desert times.’ Shape us, as your people; help us to grow in the knowledge and love of you and your Son. Help us to do this so that when the time comes we can be ready to serve you.

Traveling with you,
Reed

16Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” …38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:38-40 (ESV)

Genesis 37-50 tells the story of Joseph, who after having been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, eventually rose to great power in the Egyptian government. Of course, his route to this place wasn’t easy. Along the way he was met by difficult circumstances galore (like being sold into slavery by jealous brothers, falsly accused of impropriety, unjustly imprisoned, and forgotten by those he’d helped). In spite of all of this, or perhaps because of it, Joseph became the man he was because he knew the limitations of his own ability and the limitless power of God.

His statement in v16 is not artificially self-deprecating, rather it is an accurate observation that God is the one with the power and the answers. It is a lesson I need to realize because it is true. It is not the smartest, the best connected or the most ambitious who is of greatest benefit to his world, rather, it is the one who is humbly connected to his God that brings the best good to others! We can see this in Pharoah’s response v38. Notice that while “all the Pharaoh’s horses and all the Pharaoh’s men” weren’t up to the task, the one who was listening to God’s lead was.

What provided the foundation from which Joseph would be part of saving a nation from famine (and the consequences of it, like poverty, crime, illness, and death)? It wasn’t striving for himself and it wasn’t proclaiming his own smarts. Instead, it was waiting upon God to provide the answer, who used even the evil in Joseph’s past experiences to place him where he needed to be at just the right time and with just the right heart.

I need to be like Joseph. I need to remember that I will bring the best good for those near to me, those for whom I’m accountable, if I humbly submit to God’s lead and his word to me/us. Then, and only then, can I truly be shown what I need to see… to bring lasting good into this world.

Father, keep me in the mindset that Joseph was in. Keep me in the place he was at. Joseph was a man who humbly knew that all true wisdom and knowledge comes from you. I pray that my attitude would be his so that I might possibly be used to save others. It is the one who is connected humbly to you that brings the best good to those near to them… help me to be that!