Post by Woody Williams on Dec 4, 2005 8:05:09 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Mark 1:1-8
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The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight" ',
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole
Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to
him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their
sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt
around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed,
'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not
worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have
baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit.'
Devotional
----------
The prophetic word of calling to repentance, which precedes the act
of deliverance, is lived out in full view in the ministries of John
the Baptist and Jesus. John realizes that his role is to prepare
people to hear the word of grace and see the acts of deliverance that
will be the ministry of Jesus. John's baptism was meant to
acknowledge sins and repent of them and accept his baptism as a
washing away of those sins. Jesus' baptism is empowerment for kingdom
living and ministry. Renew your openness to the gift within through
your baptism - the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
---------------
I open my heart in a fresh desire to walk in the light and power of
the Holy Spirit, Lord. Amen
----------
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight" ',
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole
Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to
him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their
sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt
around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed,
'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not
worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have
baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit.'
Devotional
----------
The prophetic word of calling to repentance, which precedes the act
of deliverance, is lived out in full view in the ministries of John
the Baptist and Jesus. John realizes that his role is to prepare
people to hear the word of grace and see the acts of deliverance that
will be the ministry of Jesus. John's baptism was meant to
acknowledge sins and repent of them and accept his baptism as a
washing away of those sins. Jesus' baptism is empowerment for kingdom
living and ministry. Renew your openness to the gift within through
your baptism - the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
---------------
I open my heart in a fresh desire to walk in the light and power of
the Holy Spirit, Lord. Amen