I'm going to keep including the text in each day's reading until Sunday. On Sunday we'll talk about it, and I may switch to just the references. Let me know.
(Mark 1:2-8, Luke 3:1-19, John 1:19-28)
Matthew 3:1-12 (NIV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful 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, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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Before you read, ask God to speak to you through his Word, and help you understand it and know him better.
As you read, consider the following questions:
1. What does this passage tell me about Jesus?
2. How is Holy Spirit encouraging me?
3. How is Holy Spirit convicting me?
4. How can I as an individual and we as the church live this out?
5. What questions do I have about this passage?
In a journal, write the date, the passages you read, and then write a sentence or two at least about the text, your thoughts from the questions above, or a prayer.
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My notes:
v8 - Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
John the Baptist lived differently. He was counter-cultural. In an age
when the "Great" King Herod's massive and self-indulgent building
projects and decadent lifestyle were the example of success, John the
Baptist lived with nothing. He was radically different.
His calling for repentance was a call to change, and that change was
to be demonstrated.
Father God, I pray that I would encounter constant, unfailing devotion and passion for Your Kingdom. I pray for sharp certainty of my call, my role to be played within this metanarrative. I pray that You would create a heart in me that will persevere through any circumstance to see Your name glorified. I pray that I would be counter-cultural, that I would remember that I am not of this world, and so the joys of this world were not meant for me. Let me know the greater joy of preaching the Gospel, and becoming a broken vessel for You to use.
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