Advent 2: Saturday
Read:
Luke 3:1-20Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to
them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your
wages." (Luke 3:14)
No one liked the tax collectors, and it probably wasn't much different for
soldiers. Tax collectors were classified in society with harlots, disliked because
they collected taxes that went to the hated Roman Emperor; even worse, they
had a habit of overcharging and keeping the extra for themselves. No, tax
collectors had few friends besides their colleagues in the office. As for the
soldiers, whether Roman or Herod's, they were ultimately there to preserve
hated Caesar's interests, to the disgust of many. Furthermore, they weren't above
a few threats to extort money or goods that they wanted.
So one can imagine delight in the crowd when tax collectors and soldiers
came to John the Baptist and asked, “What shall we do?” It was the perfect
opportunity that talk show hosts dream about, a hanging curve ball that John
could use to blast these unpopular men. It was the big chance to tell them to quit
their jobs and start doing charity work or go on a mission or something. Let 'em
have it, John.
But the prophet simply said to the tax collectors, “Collect no more than is
appointed for you.” And to the soldiers, he instructed, “Do not intimidate
anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” The Bible doesn't
say, but I'm betting this wasn't popular with a lot of people. John declared it was
okay to be a tax collector, a soldier and a servant of Caesar—as long as these
men acted honestly and justly. In other words, they were to act as forgiven tax
collectors and soldiers, because those were the vocations God had given them.
This teaches us much about our daily lives as Christians, and remember
yesterday's lesson that our fruits and works are good because we are forgiven.
God gives us vocations in life, specific stations in which we serve others; and
Christian living means that we do these things as God's forgiven people. I've
come across Christians who were worried that they weren't doing enough for
Jesus because they were too busy going to work, raising kids, and taking care of
elderly parents. But these are precisely the things that God has given them to do,
and your life is likely little different. That ordinary life of yours is part of God's
plan to keep this world going, and you're an instrument in the hand of your
Maker. That much is true for all people, believers or not.
What makes your daily life into Christian living? Christ and His grace do.
His lowly life and death won salvation for you. As one forgiven for Jesus' sake,
your daily tasks, no matter how lowly, are pleasing to Him. The answer to holy
living is not a change in vocations: the answer is Christ, who makes you and
your life holy by His grace.
Once He came in blessing, All our ills redressing;
Came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us, Hope and freedom gave us. (TLH 74:1)