"'In those days John the Baptist came preaching,..'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!...The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'" (From Matthew 3:1-3)
As I was praying for our neighborhood recently, I realized anew that the only difference between me and those in our neighborhood who reject Jesus Christ is the Blood of Jesus Christ. I am just as deserving of judgment, condemnation, and the fires of Hell as they are. I am no smarter, no more spiritual, no more righteous apart from the Blood of Jesus. There is no room whatsoever in any person who calls himself a Christian for pride or superiority. If it were not for the appearing of Jesus, His sinless Life, His taking, "our sins in His Own Body on the Tree," His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension into, "the Holiest of all," to sprinkle His Blood on the Mercy Seat on our behalf ---------------- we are all lost.
John's message reveals that, "the way of the LORD," is for any and all who are repentant and go through the waters of baptism. Anyone who does not come this way, does not come to Jesus Christ. They come to a religion of convenience, not His way, but theirs. Such a religion will save no one. Our text reveals that John the Baptist was, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness." The word for, "crying," means "to shout in a tumultuous way." The shout of The Baptist was indeed tumultuous, tumultuous to a world full of idols and gods many, to a religious community, the Covenant People of God who had thought they had the Kingdom all to themselves. John said, "not so." The Kingdom is to those repentant ones who are baptized as the sign of the New Covenant, and, "bear fruits worthy of repentance," not just "sinners' prayer" repentance. "And do not think to say to yourselves"----- that you have some special privilege with the Godhead which others do not. All those who respond to the, "Good News of the Kingdom," those who are among, "But as many who receive Him," King Jesus, the Christ, all those become citizens of the Kingdom, and become the Blood Bought Children of our Triune God.
The announcement in our text was not for His physical birth, but the "birth" of His Life's mission, "to seek and to save that which is lost," to take us all to the Cross, to prepare for us a home in Heaven, and to, "appear the second time"------------- "and so shall we ever be with the Lord." If you think Christmas is something, just wait!
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God. All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His Blood." Amen.
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This would be a great time to review the prophetic video at:
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
