FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
A TIME OF TRANSITION
(Part 13)
LIVING OUR NAME
December 19, 2020
Today’s readings:
Judges 13:2-7,24-25
Psalm 71:3-6,16-17
Luke 1:5-25
We are Missionary Families of Christ, and our name tells who we are and what we are called to do.
We are first of all “of Christ.” We are founded on the Rock that is Christ.
- Jesus is our refuge. “Be my rock of refuge, my stronghold to give me safety; for you are my rock and fortress.” (Ps 71:3).
- Jesus is our protector. “My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evil and violent.” (Ps 71:4).
- Jesus is our hope and we trust in him. “You are my hope, Lord; my trust, God, from my youth.” (Ps 71:5).* Jesus is our strength. “On you I have depended since birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers.” (Ps 71:6).
Then we are “families.” God brought forth great Biblical personages in miraculous ways through the family.
- There was Samson. His mother, the wife of Manoah, was barren, but God miraculously allowed her to “conceive and bear a son.” (Jgs 13:3).
- There was John the Baptist. His mother Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, “was barren and both were advanced in years.” (Lk 1:7). The angel appeared to Zechariah and said, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” (Lk 1:13).
- There was Jesus, conceived by Mary in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, we are “missionary.” All the above personages had their mission.
- Samson was “he who will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.” (Jgs 13:5c).
- John the Baptist was destined to “be great in the sight of the Lord” (Lk 1:15a), as “he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.” (Lk 1:16).
- Jesus of course is the Savior of the world.
As MFC, we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. This is crucial for us to know and imitate Christ, to renew and strengthen families, and to effectively do mission.
- Samson was “to be a nazirite for God from the womb” and “the spirit of the Lord came upon him” (Jgs 13:5b,25).
- John would “be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb” (Lk 1:15c).
- Jesus after he was baptized by John had the Spirit of God descend upon him like a dove.1
All three would bring God’s salvation to His people. Samson delivered Israel from the oppression of the Philistines. John brought people to repentance and reconciliation with God. Jesus redeemed God’s people from their sins.
Such is also the divine work we are privileged to do. We are instruments of God’s salvation. In the name of Jesus, we help renew families and we help bring back God’s people to Himself. We help prepare the way for our Lord’s second coming. Just like John, we are to “go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” (Lk 1:17).
God has raised MFC to “speak of the mighty works of the Lord” (Ps 71:16a), to proclaim the gospel of salvation in Jesus to the ends of the earth. From the very start, 39 years ago, God has formed us for such a time as this. “God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds.” (Ps 71:17).
Let us go and live out our name.
1 Matthew 3:16.