This week Pastor Adam started a new series leading up to Easter, about John the Baptist. We’ll be taking a deep dive into his life and calling and how it applies to us today. John the Baptist is so named because he was a “baptizer” of people responding to the message of repentance. He even baptized his cousin Jesus. Jesus wanted to set an example for the people even though He was the spotless Lamb. John was the front-runner, announcing the coming of Christ and repentance, or the “door holder” for Jesus, as Pastor mentioned today. He is considered the greatest of all prophets. In Matthew 11:11 (NIV) Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Let’s take a moment and read Matthew 3”1-5a,6 (NIV) “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. 5a) People went out to him . . . 6) Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
John was a unique man with a unique calling. He was crying out and speaking of a life of freedom from sin. He was a Divinely appointed messenger sent to prepare the way for Jesus and the Salvation that Jesus offered. He connects the Old Testament and old covenant and law with the New Testament and the New Covenant. Isaiah 40:3(-5) “A voice of one calling ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” And also Acts 10:37-38 37 “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”
We will take this week to look deeper into the things that Pastor Adam talked about. Pray and invite the Lord to speak to you this week through His Word.
Monday:
Let’s go back in John’s story to before He was even conceived. (Luke 1:11-17) Zechariah and Elizabeth were barren and longed for a child. Zechariah had gone in to perform his priestly duties and an angel appeared to him, telling him that he and his wife would have a son and they were to name him John. This was a couple who were a little older and then the angel wanted the child to be called a different name than the name that should be passed down? Indeed, this happened just as the angel said. Pastor Adam said, “God always had a purpose for John’s life. God’s timing and God’s plan are precise. Exact and miraculous in John’s life. John is an example of the uniqueness of human life.”
Reflection/Action:
Read Luke 1:1-25. God already had a plan for John’s life. Think about your own life. Do you feel that God has a plan and call and that you are confidently living it out? Or do you feel like you are wandering and wondering if God overlooked you? Maybe you are somewhere in between, you started out strong, but have gotten sidetracked. Take some time to pray and seek Him and what it is He wants you to see, understand, remember, or know about the purpose He has for your life.
Tuesday:
We can find common ground with John the Baptist because we all have a call and purpose and uniqueness from God. Psalm 139:13-15 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.” Remember Your life and your purpose matter!!!
Reflection/Action:
Read Psalm 139. Now read it again. Ask God to speak to the very depths of your being. What is He saying through this passage? Write it down. Think about it. Accept it as the Truth from your loving Heavenly Father.
Wednesday:
Now, let’s look at the time that Jesus and John the Baptist met while in their mothers’ wombs.
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. -Luke 1:39-41
We may read this and think about our own stories and feel less than or unwanted. It is not an accident that we are here, no matter the circumstances.
This story hopefully reminds us that God cares and sees and knows each of us since before we were even born!
Reflection/Action:
The details of this story are so amazing. The details of your story are also amazing. Think back to a time when you really felt seen and known by God. Take some time to praise Him for that.
Thursday:
There is a theological concept known as Imago Dei (Latin phrase) meaning the image of God in humans. This simply means that you and I are made in the very image of God Himself. Let's take a moment and think about the world we live in, the beauty that is found all around, in nature and animals and flowers. As wonderful as these things are and as unique as they can be, these things are not created in the image of God. But you and I are created in His image. Bottom line, we are made in His image. We are not God, but a reflection of God and Who He is, His character and love, His being. A reflection of something greater.
Reflection/Action
Read Psalm 139 again. Take a look in the mirror and confess out loud “I am made in the image of God.
Friday:
This idea of Imago Dei needs to impact the way we see and treat EVERYONE. Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” We are the grand finale of God’s creation. He created everything THEN He created Adam and Eve in His image. Let us remember we are to be like Christ, bearing His image, not just to the ones we like, but to ALL people.
Just like Adam and Eve were given purpose and responsibility, so are we. All the people all through the Bible, all through time. Let the purpose of the life of John the Baptist (and anyone else for that matter) remind us that we each have the hand of God upon our very own life. And let us live it out every day in God’s strength.
Reflection/Action:
We are the grand finale of God’s creation. How does that phrase make you feel? We are to be an image-bearer of Christ. You have God’s hand upon your life today. Pray and ask God to help you be a reflection of Him to all those in your sphere of influence.
Saturday:
Pastor Adam talked about the fact that we are made in God’s image, we’ve been given purpose and responsibility, dominion over creation. We can enjoy God’s purpose in our life. Because we are created in God’s image, we have personality, we can reason, and live in the purpose God has for us. We have spirituality because we have a spirit that is created in God’s image as well and have communion and relationship with God. We have a moral nature. We feel conviction, we are able to love, and have the Holy Spirit moving in and through us, the same Holy Spirit that Elizabeth and John the Baptist experienced. The same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is within us.
Reflection/Action:
Read Ephesians 2:10. Remind yourself that you ARE created in God’s very image and that He does have a good plan and purpose for your life.