God Speaks
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Source: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You for sending John the Baptist to proclaim the coming of Messiah and to call for repentance as preparation. May I and many others of Your adopted children also be voices in the wilderness. May changes in people’s lives bear evidence of true repentance. Although we are baptized with water, may Jesus baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus, separate the wheat from the chaff. Jesus, please help me and others fulfill all righteousness as You did. Then, we will hear deep in our souls (now and later in person in Heaven) the Father say, “This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.” AMEN
Reflection: I suggest that you write these in a journal leaving space to record how things worked out. Date and record the results as they occur. Then review monthly to celebrate what God is doing in your life.
Action: Ask the LORD how He wants you to put the principles in this chapter into action. In response, choose one of these or write your own. Actions to consider:
- I will seek out a pastor or a mature believer I trust to witness the repentance of my sins.
- I will look into being baptized as a believer in Christ. (If you haven’t been already.)
- I will look for at least one opportunity to proclaim both Jesus’ first and second comings.
- I will ask the Lord what act(s) of righteousness He wants me to do today, then do it.
- Fill in the blank: With the help of the Holy Spirit, in the next 100 hours (about 4 days), I will: __________________________
- As the Holy Spirit directs, in the next 100 hours (about 4 days), I will share or put into action the principles I learned in this lesson with ___________ (Initials only) [If you don’t know the person’s name, put something that will help you remember like CIS = clerk in store, NDN = next door neighbor, or PAW = person at work.]