There are times when Jesus doesn’t pull punches - He just unloads with full force. When Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan - He is condemning those who are too busy to stop for others, too prideful to speak to the lowly, or too holy to interact with sinners. People matter. God’s desire is that all people would be in the Way of Jesus - walking toward the Surprisingly Better Life. And more often than not - God puts people in our path so we can practice generosity - both with our time and possessions. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become generous hosts.

God is compassionate. This is affirmed by the scriptures over and over and over again. God is slow to anger, He is forgiving, and His love for us…is steadfast. Time and time again, in the biographies of Jesus, we read of Jesus’ compassion on the crowds - He joined them in the suffering of their bodies, minds and Spirits. And that compassion led Him to act. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become compassionate friends.

Theologians down through the centuries all agree - God is actively speaking to His people and His people are actively ignoring Him. In other words, it’s not a talking…but a listening problem. When Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is at hand - He’s telling us that we can access God’s kingdom - if we simply pay attention, listen to what’s being said, and then by God’s spirit, walk in faith. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become expectant listeners.

At the end of the day, the command of Jesus for every disciple is to be a disciple-maker. As we walk toward the surprisingly better life, being shaped in the words and ways of Jesus, we are commanded to bring others along. Discipling other people isn’t difficult, but we won’t do it by accident. We are called to share the story of Jesus, to walk in His ways along side of others, in the places where we live, work, and play.

The Christian life begins in the waters of baptism — It’s there that we are marked by Christ, the crucified. Yet, far too many Christians associate this life with the one that is to come - the one kept in heaven for us. When Jesus was baptized, it was to mark the beginning of His earthly ministry — His journey here on earth. The Christian life, the abundant life, is a life lived not only for heaven…but here on earth. This Surprisingly Better Life is a life lived in the Way - the way of Jesus.

In CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Pevensie children stumble into a dark woods during an eternal winter. Yet, in the middle of that wood is a street lantern, aglow with light and warmth. That light is a beacon in that dark, cold wood. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany - when Magi from the east are enlightened by the Light of the Word. Jesus, like a street lantern in Lewis' wood, is a beacon calling every man, woman, boy and girl...home.

When Christmas is barely over, the Church reminds us that Jesus entered not a safe world, but a dangerous one. From fleeing to Egypt to bearing our suffering on the cross, Christ walks a new Exodus to rescue us from sin and fear.

On a quiet night outside Bethlehem, God chose shepherds and a manger to announce the arrival of His Son, the King. Today, we slow down, step into the darkness with the shepherds, and see how God’s glory shows up in humility.  We awe in the good news that the child of Bethlehem still meets us in ordinary places, turning fear into joy and anticipation into praise.