Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 19-21; Luke 3
Devotional Thought:
John’s message of repentance and forgiveness is the message proclaimed by every true preacher of God’s Holy Word. It is the good news of the gospel alone that provides hope to a sin-cursed world. John the Baptist was given a message that could have been understood by the Gentiles; however, he was preaching to the Jews. The Jews were religiously bankrupt and desperately needed to hear John’s call to repentance. All through the Old Testament the Jewish people had fallen into idolatry over and over again. Ultimately God had judged them by allowing them to be taken into captivity. Unfortunately the Jews created a legalistic religion, whose followers believed they could gain a right relationship with God with their own efforts. The Lord Jesus Christ declared in His sermon on the mount, that no one could earn salvation by keeping the law, since the standard is the absolutely perfect holiness of God. The Jewish religious leaders were focusing on external behavior instead of heart attitudes, making hypocritical public displays of giving to the poor, praying, and fasting. Matthew 7 teaches us that those counting on such self-righteous achievements to earn their salvation are foolishly building a house on sand-one that will crumble when the winds and waves come. John the Baptist promoted a message of repentance. Those building their house upon the rock of Christ Jesus truly repent of their sin, declaring their own spiritual bankruptcy, humbly turning from their sin, and accepting the righteousness granted them by God. Those who are truly saved accept by faith the finished work of Christ to save them from their sin. These will become sons of God and inherit the wonderful gift of everlasting life. “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (vs. 16-17) John the Baptist preached that sin bears an incurable consequence, but God provided a Lamb that was willing to endure the price tag of our sin, and offer salvation from its consequence. It is interesting to read verse 18, “And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.” John the Baptist addressed many things including preaching against specific sins. Herod the tetrarch was addressed for his sins and put John in prison. No matter the consequence, it is imperative that we teach and preach the importance of repentance as necessary for salvation.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to be willing to humbly and completely admit my own spiritual bankruptcy. Thank you for being perfect and therefore qualified to pay my sin debt. Thank you for being enough to save me from my sin and to help me each day as I seek to serve you faithfully.
• Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation and for extending it to me. Thank you for your constant love, grace, mercy, long suffering, and patience with me. Help me to agree with you each day, all day, on the standard of righteousness exemplified by my Savior.