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He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “ I am not the Christ.”

“Jesus Saves is what it raves in a typical tattoo green!” So goes the line from DC Talk’s iconic Jesus Freak title track song from their 1995 album of the same name. And it’s true, Jesus is the one who saves.

Are you the kind of person who wants to be someone’s savior? Are you trying to fix someone else’s problems? As Believers, we are witnesses to the savior, we aren’t the savior ourselves. You can’t make someone turn their life around, only God can change hearts. As much as we want to force our children, our spouse, a friend, to “clean up their act,” to “get it together,” and “get back in church” Jesus (not you or me) saves. They have to come to the place where they realize that Jesus is the answer. Many people do need to clean up their act. Tons of people do need to get it together, and there are scores of people ready to help you and give you a home in church… at the end of the day, if you don’t have Jesus, it isn’t going to mean anything.

If you don’t know Jesus, trust him.

If you want to help people, introduce them.

It can be very easy to be overwhelmed by all the needs around you, especially if you are serving and are involved in many ministries at your church. There are always more people in need, there’s always someone else whom you could help, but you’ve got to do what Jesus has called you to do. Remember Jesus’ response to the Pharisee’s rebuke of the woman who (from their perspective) wasted too much of her resources on worship and (so they thought) she should have done more for the poor? Jesus said “the poor will always be with you.” Practical physical ministry is very important, but keep in mind, it was only ever about 11% of the “budget” (the tithes collected) for Israel. A church’s purpose isn’t to alleviate poverty, we’re gospel warriors, not social-gospel crusaders. If you’re not using your talents to advance the gospel, you’ve missed the mission.

Each of us have a purpose and a specific part of God’s mission. Though we are all called to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God,” we also need to keep in mind that you (as an individual) are not called to help everybody in every way. Don’t let ministry “along the way” sidetrack you from the ministry God has uniquely gifted and called you to. Jesus was surrounded by the poor, the hungry, and the sick; and he helped them as he could, but that wasn’t really why he was here. Those in need would have kept him from leaving if he had not walked away… sometimes, you just need to walk on. Help all you can, but do what God has called you to as part of the Great Commission. 

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “ I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

-Luke 4:42-43

As Jesus gathers his first disciples he gathers to himself young men who are the head of a fishing business. Peter, the chief fisherman, would have been the oldest and probably in charge of this family business. Jesus asks them to put down their nets and follow him, but he puts it in terms they can understand. He says “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” That’s how God calls us, to use the skills we know and are good at for his kingdom. What are you good at? Think about that… how can you use that for his glory? Your abilities are a gift from God, but they are also a gift for God, to be used as a part of his church to bless the world. How will you follow Jesus today?

In today’s verses from Luke 3, we learn that Jesus was “about 30 years of age” when he began his ministry. This is significant because this is the age (roughly) at which a young man would transition to being able to be a teacher and leader within the Jewish faith (a Rabbi). Jesus became an itinerant teacher and gathered for himself 12 young men to follow him. He was probably about 34 years old (in my opinion) when he broke onto the scene and began leading and discipling as he preached the Good News that he had come. The Bible does not require you to be “old enough” to lead others. You may only be in your 30s and you can change the world, if God is in your efforts. Are you in High School or Middle School and think you can’t make a difference? All the disciples except Peter were probably your age. You can make a difference. All God needs is a willing heart to change everything… will you follow him?