“In those days came John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esais, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” Mathew 3 v1-9 AKJV
Here, in my mind a man came preaching boldly the message of repentance. It was a message of positive authority and confirmation of prophecy.
“The voice of him crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for God.” Isaiah 40 v3 AKJV
and there’s more…
“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry, And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, and the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Isaiah 40 v4-8 AKJV
The prophecy’s of God’s promises and of his sovereign authorship of life eternal began hundreds of years prior to John the Baptist and lived on through him, as they will you in some ways. John was the forerunner, the messenger, to and of Christ Jesus in his day. Isaiah was the messenger of God in preparation of Jerusalem, and the rest of the living body of Christ to follow. Jesus is, and always has been, the trinity fulfilled in completion for humanity to see and accept as the -final sacrificial lamb- for the redemption of those who choose him. Repentance for me was the opportunity to become a part of the body of Christ with him, his spirit living in me with great influence and bringing the joy of walking with him to it’s fullest. Life with Christ doesn’t have to be burdensome as often portrayed, but is full even in the difficult times. In truth, there is a time of purging ourselves of all unrighteousness. That time is given in a measure of faith as we learn and experience a life of trusting God. Daily, we fall short but daily we are over-comers and with that comes the ability to take on life in a positive way and also to share that positive way with others.
Humility is not hanging our heads in shame but accepting by faith the joy of living in a Christian way. Many events took place in the introduction of Christ to the world in his day. Those same events bear witness today of the turning marked in time and observed throughout the world.
The birth of John-leading to the birth of Jesus- as it was…
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of the course, According to the custom of the priest office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of the incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1 v -14 AKJV
“For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mothers womb. And many of the Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom and just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1 v14 – 17 AKJV
Doing what is right is good, loving to do what is right and doing it is even better.
Prepare our hearts Lord, for your coming. Prepare us in our ways-our mind for living the day in honor of you. Lord we thank you all things. We pray. Amen
Tuesday 12/18/2018
Threecrosses 