Isaiah was speaking of John the Baptist…forerunner of the Messiah. John’s calling – to proclaim a specific message of the need to repent and be baptized. His approach – similar to the prophets of old, preaching with fire a compelling message of repentance. John’s purpose – to prepare the way for Jesus.
Tag: God
I Peter 2: 21 ” To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example , that you should follow in His steps.”
They’re watching you…half the time full of skepticism, the other, admiring the grace under pressure you portray. The world doesn’t like Christians…they’d rather that you would just be quiet and compromise your values. But they continue to watch…not liking what you stand for, because it makes them feel guilty, but still wanting to hang around…Because when that time comes that they need a wise, strong friend…you’ll be the first one they’ll think of.
Psalm 66: 16 ” Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.”
As fellow Believers, we need to be recounting God’s creative activity in our lives to each other. Nothing encourages me more than hearing from a dear friend…and it’s even more special when they’re telling me about something great the Lord is doing in their life. Why do we keep such wonderful news to ourselves rather than sharing God’s goodness with others? Brighten someone’s life today and share what God’s doing for you.
II Peter 1:16 ” We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
Simon Peter had lived, traveled, and spent three years with Jesus. He had no need to make up tales about what he saw and heard…those times were burned in his memory forever. And besides, any fabricated stories wouldn’t be able hold a candle to all the miracles and wonders he saw firsthand and experienced.
Malachi 3:6 ” I the Lord do not change.”
The Lord will never change His affection…His feelings…or His desires towards you. His thoughts about you will never be altered, nor will He ever pretend one thing only to change His mind. No, God’s love towards you will never change…no matter what happens, no matter what you do, or not do…He will not change.
Psalm 124:8 ” Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Our trust cannot be in ourselves and our own strength, for in times of trouble, we are not strong enough. Our trust cannot be dependent on someone else, for they will disappoint us miserably every time. Our trust can only be in the Lord… for He will never fail us.
Job 23:10 ” But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Our journey in life is one test after another. During this purification process, we’ll go through the fire more than once…but its within that refining that our essential character and integrity is determined. Without that testing, we would never become the people we are today.
Proverbs 14:10 “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”
Each one of us have painful things that we carry within ourselves…things no one else knows. Many times these things are either too painful or to intimate to share…so we choose not to. In the same way, some of the most satisfying, delightful joys we experience in our lives we never tell others…these simple joys are just between the Lord and us and just too wonderful to share with anyone else.
Galatians 5:16 ” So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
By following the urging of the Holy Spirit rather than our own misguided appetites and passions, our lives will play out in harmony, peace, and righteousness. For when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead, we pass from that old person to a new creation in Christ.
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”
There is power in numbers. I remember a group of men literally picking up a car to save a woman trapped under it from an accident. I’ve seen devastating damage from a tornado cleaned up by hundreds of strangers wanting to help. But when we gather together in the name of the Lord, the power is amplified beyond our comprehension…for in the mist, we find God…and with God, all things are possible.
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