John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” (Luke 3:11)
As a junior high band director, each year I reminded the students what they should wear for the Christmas concert. Once, on the following day, a student handed me a note from his mother. The note said she was sorry, but her son would not have black shoes for the performance because they could not afford them. I called and reassured her not to worry and that he could wear whatever shoes he had.
That night, I told my family about it, and we agreed it would be fun to bless this family for Christmas. We wrapped gifts and included a Christmas card and cash. We wanted to give anonymously so we left at night to deliver the gifts. Dogs were barking, and it was dark as we tried to locate his home in a mobile home community. We found it, left the gifts on the porch, and ran to the car.
In this passage, John the Baptist responded to a crowd about what they must do to live a repentant life that bears fruit. He called them to action and, specifically, to meet the needs of others. These same admonitions later came through the ministry of Jesus. My family learned a valuable lesson about living an unselfish life. This Christmas is an opportunity to respond to the Lord’s call to meet the needs of others.
Prayerfully consider a need you can meet for another.
Nancy Pike is the director of creative arts and congregational care at LifeSpring Church. She recently completed a masters of pastoral ministry at Wesley Seminary.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
