The Voice of a Proclaimer

Leadership is broken because leaders are unbroken

The Voices of Christmas:  The Voice of a Proclaimer

He came as a proclaimer out of the desert in the line of the great Wilderness Prophets such as Moses and Elijah. He was John the Baptizer, and he was fully consecrated unto God and filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.

John was both radical and real, and it was this radical reality that drew people from cities all around into the wilderness to hear his message. At one point Jesus asked, “What did you go into the desert to see? A reed blowing in the wind? A man dressed in fine clothes? A prophet? Yes, and more than a prophet.”

John was more than a prophet because he was the one sent to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. He went ahead of Jesus to prepare people for His coming.

That’s what we are as well: forerunners, preparing others to meet Jesus…

One day John was standing with some of his men when Jesus walked toward him, and John said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

This is what Christmas is really about because this is how we receive the peace God offers to us through faith in Christ. Jesus takes away our guilt because He delivers us from any need to hide from each other or cover up or wear masks or pretend we are what we’re not. He releases us from image management because He makes us who we were created to be.

Christmas brings us the message of freedom from bondage to liberty. Jesus brings us forgiveness and release along with the resources we need to change from guilt through grace.

For all who know Him, He is the lamb who offered the sacrifice of death so we could have His life. If you have trusted Him as your sacrifice, then you have met God’s demands for righteousness through Him and you are no longer guilty. So if, at this Christmas time you have feelings of guilt, know that they are real feelings but not true feelings and thank Him that you are forgiven and eternally released from all shame. You are free through the Lamb who died for you.

On the other hand you may see Christmas as something religious, a nice feeling brought on by seasonal music, decorated malls, and warm greetings, but it’s yesterday’s news on December 26.

Christmas is not about religion, but about a relationship with the Lamb who willingly came to be your sacrifice.  Turn to Him for the new life that comes through His death.  Acknowledge that you have sinned by disobeying God and bringing hurt to others, especially those you love the most. Your guilt is real and your responsibility cannot be denied. Confess that responsibility; call on Jesus to become your Savior and bring you God’s forgiveness, and cry out to Him for His resources to live His way. Tell those you have wounded that you have turned to Jesus and ask them for their forgiveness, even when they’re not yet ready to give it. Find a church where you can get help to grow in Christ and enter into the fullness of Christmas through the Lamb of God who took away your sins.

From "The Voices of Christmas:  The Voice of a Proclaimer" on www.leaderformation.org/blog  

About:  The Broken Leadership Blog is about changing the leadership conversation from what we are doing with our hands to what God is doing through our hearts.