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20 August 2008
Word on the Web
Pray First
Wilderness or wealthy bliss, wherever you are you can hear God's voice. Begin the conversation.
Matthew 3:1-12
Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here." John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, `Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' "
John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey. From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them: You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you have really given up your sins. And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.
I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.
Main Point
When the British Queen visits a place, preparations are made at many levels. Increased security measures are put in place, streets and buildings are made spotless, tight schedules are arranged, new outfits are bought by those expecting to meet the Queen. There is an air of excitement at the approach of royalty.
John the Baptist's announcement about the coming king inspired similar excitement and expectancy, but the requirements were vastly different. The only external preparations for the coming kingdom were to be in people's actions. The essential requirement was repentance: a change of heart and mind leading to a change in behaviour.
Let's take time today to ask ourselves how we prepare for the King's approach. Have we become so accustomed to his presence that we no longer feel any excitement? Have we got so used to his grace and forgiveness that we reason that our sin increases his grace?
The people in John's day were familiar with the law. Yet they, like us, did not take their own sin seriously until they were convinced of the King's approach. That same combination of excitement and holy fear should cause us to repent and to live daily the kind of lives we know would please our King.
Reflect
Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Do you need to repent of any sin? What could you do to prepare yourself for the King's return?
Word on the Web is provided free of charge as part of the ministry of Church Army.
Word on the Web
Pray First
Wilderness or wealthy bliss, wherever you are you can hear God's voice. Begin the conversation.
Matthew 3:1-12
Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here." John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, `Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' "
John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey. From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them: You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you have really given up your sins. And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.
I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.
Main Point
When the British Queen visits a place, preparations are made at many levels. Increased security measures are put in place, streets and buildings are made spotless, tight schedules are arranged, new outfits are bought by those expecting to meet the Queen. There is an air of excitement at the approach of royalty.
John the Baptist's announcement about the coming king inspired similar excitement and expectancy, but the requirements were vastly different. The only external preparations for the coming kingdom were to be in people's actions. The essential requirement was repentance: a change of heart and mind leading to a change in behaviour.
Let's take time today to ask ourselves how we prepare for the King's approach. Have we become so accustomed to his presence that we no longer feel any excitement? Have we got so used to his grace and forgiveness that we reason that our sin increases his grace?
The people in John's day were familiar with the law. Yet they, like us, did not take their own sin seriously until they were convinced of the King's approach. That same combination of excitement and holy fear should cause us to repent and to live daily the kind of lives we know would please our King.
Reflect
Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Do you need to repent of any sin? What could you do to prepare yourself for the King's return?
Word on the Web is provided free of charge as part of the ministry of Church Army.