Post by Woody Williams on Dec 9, 2007 6:35:19 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Matthew 3:1-8
----------
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his
waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of
Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region
along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Devotional
----------
The ministry of John the Baptist was like a bridge between the Old
Testament prophetic Word and the appearance of Jesus as the incarnate
Word - Word become flesh. Transition persons such as John serve to
disrupt the scene. They create a bit of chaos out of which something
new may emerge. John's call to repentance is the call that precedes
Jesus call to new life for all of us, over and over again.
Prayer
-----------------
Open my heart to your continuing call for repentance, gracious God.
Amen
----------
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his
waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of
Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region
along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Devotional
----------
The ministry of John the Baptist was like a bridge between the Old
Testament prophetic Word and the appearance of Jesus as the incarnate
Word - Word become flesh. Transition persons such as John serve to
disrupt the scene. They create a bit of chaos out of which something
new may emerge. John's call to repentance is the call that precedes
Jesus call to new life for all of us, over and over again.
Prayer
-----------------
Open my heart to your continuing call for repentance, gracious God.
Amen