by John Herman
Day 1 – Read Matthew 4:17-25.
In these verses, Jesus announces the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God, and he begins to call people to become his disciples. In what ways does God’s kingdom seem present to you? In what ways does it seem “not yet?” For another look at the nature of the kingdom Jesus is bringing, read Luke 4:16-30. Compare the words Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 with the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes: 5:3-12). Taken together, these words of Jesus begin to give us a picture of the kingdom of God. This week we begin our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Pray that God will make this a fruitful study in your life, and in the life of Peace.
Day 2 – Read Matthew 13:44-46.
Matthew groups all of the parables in this one chapter. The parables are another way that Jesus expresses the nature and the call of the kingdom of God. What do these two brief parables teach us about the kingdom Jesus is bringing? With what kind of attitude should it be pursued? How do you relate these parables to Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6:33, to seek first God’s kingdom? Allow this to be the center of your prayer today.
Day 3 – Read Matthew 9:9-13 and Hosea 6:4-6.
Jesus continues to call people to become his disciples, in this story Matthew the tax collector. It seems that Matthew invited many of his friends (fellow tax collectors) to a dinner to meet Jesus. When the Pharisees complain that Jesus is not keeping the ritual purity laws by eating with “sinners,” Jesus tells them to go and study their scriptures (the prophet Hosea), where God says: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” How does that statement characterize the ministry of Jesus? What guidance does it have for your own life?
Day 4 – Read Exodus 20:1-21.
In this passage, the Ten Commandments are given to the people of Israel. Notice the words that God speaks immediately before the commandments are delineated (20:2). Even the commandments are given in a context of grace. God has delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, and is leading them through the wilderness toward their promised land. The commandments are given to shape the people as God’s people and provide a foundation for their life together. Do you understand God’s commandments as gracious? For your good and the good of others? Which commandments are the most difficult for you? Why? Pray about this.
Day 5 – Read Matthew 5:17-20 and Romans 3:27-31.
We saw in an earlier reading this week that Jesus was accused of setting aside some of the ritual traditions. But in this reading (Matthew 5:17-20) Jesus proclaims that he has not come to abolish (overthrow) the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. What does Jesus mean? How does he fulfill them? Then Jesus raises the bar for his followers, telling them that their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. What is righteousness? How do we obtain a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees? Does God’s will go beyond what the law requires? When Jesus commands the disciples to go and make disciples of all peoples and to teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded them, to what teachings or commandments do you think Jesus is referring (Matthew 28:16-20)? What commandments of Jesus are central in your life?
The Weary World Rejoices!
Day 1
During this blessed week, we must take care not to worship Christmas, but to worship Jesus, God incarnate, who came that we might know and be reconciled to God through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. When you look in the manger, remember the cross. Read 1 Peter 1:18-20. Pause and pray. Now read Luke 1:1-25. Luke is precise and shares many details about the miraculous coming of the one who will herald the Messiah. What does he reveal about John the Baptist, even before John’s conception? Did you notice that John was to be filled with the Spirit even before his birth, and that he would be a Nazarite (Luke 1:14-15; Numbers 6:1-8)? Spend time in prayer.
Day 2
Be Still...God says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a). We sing, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” words which speak of the awesome and holy movement of God breaking into temporal history clothed in human flesh. Yet many are caught in the tyranny of the urgent and are in danger of missing the true blessing of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us. Be still! Pray the Spirit will awaken your heart to the love and mystery of God as you read Luke 1:26-56. Notice how Mary moves from confusion and fear to faith, trust, submission, and praise. Tell God you want to trust God like Mary did; ask the Spirit to enable you to step into the mystery of God’s story.
Day 3
If possible, read the lyrics or listen to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” by Greene and Lowry. Now read Luke 1:26- 56. Meditate on Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Luke 1:37; and 2 Corinthians 1:20. How do these truths affect your faith walk? Ponder Mary’s response to the angel (Luke 1:38) and Elizabeth’s blessing for Mary (1:45). How did God confirm the angel’s message to Mary when she came into Elizabeth’s presence (1:41-45)? Notice that this happened before Mary shared her story. Read Mary’s song of praise again (1:45-55), and worship the Lord.
Day 4
As we approach a new year, it’s easy to pack up the decorations and forget about Christmas, but the wonder of God’s love and truth that God became human and walked this earth is too precious to dismiss with the season. Is the best Christmas gift you can give, perhaps, still waiting to be given? Have you loved someone in Jesus’ name and for God’s glory? Have you told anyone about God’s amazing grace? Have you been quiet long enough to hear someone’s heart cry and offer the greatest gift of all, Jesus? Slowly and prayer- fully, read John 1:1-14. Pray you will live the words of the old spiritual, “Go tell it on the mountain...and ev’rywhere...that Jesus Christ is born!”
Day 5
Be surprised by Joy...Meditate on John 16: 20. You will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Learn the discipline of being surprised not by suffering but by joy. Be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain. With a heart trusting that we will get what we need, and a spirit always surprised by joy, we will walk through this weary world participating in and witnessing miracles.
During this blessed week, we must take care not to worship Christmas, but to worship Jesus, God incarnate, who came that we might know and be reconciled to God through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. When you look in the manger, remember the cross. Read 1 Peter 1:18-20. Pause and pray. Now read Luke 1:1-25. Luke is precise and shares many details about the miraculous coming of the one who will herald the Messiah. What does he reveal about John the Baptist, even before John’s conception? Did you notice that John was to be filled with the Spirit even before his birth, and that he would be a Nazarite (Luke 1:14-15; Numbers 6:1-8)? Spend time in prayer.
Day 2
Be Still...God says, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a). We sing, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” words which speak of the awesome and holy movement of God breaking into temporal history clothed in human flesh. Yet many are caught in the tyranny of the urgent and are in danger of missing the true blessing of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us. Be still! Pray the Spirit will awaken your heart to the love and mystery of God as you read Luke 1:26-56. Notice how Mary moves from confusion and fear to faith, trust, submission, and praise. Tell God you want to trust God like Mary did; ask the Spirit to enable you to step into the mystery of God’s story.
Day 3
If possible, read the lyrics or listen to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” by Greene and Lowry. Now read Luke 1:26- 56. Meditate on Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Luke 1:37; and 2 Corinthians 1:20. How do these truths affect your faith walk? Ponder Mary’s response to the angel (Luke 1:38) and Elizabeth’s blessing for Mary (1:45). How did God confirm the angel’s message to Mary when she came into Elizabeth’s presence (1:41-45)? Notice that this happened before Mary shared her story. Read Mary’s song of praise again (1:45-55), and worship the Lord.
Day 4
As we approach a new year, it’s easy to pack up the decorations and forget about Christmas, but the wonder of God’s love and truth that God became human and walked this earth is too precious to dismiss with the season. Is the best Christmas gift you can give, perhaps, still waiting to be given? Have you loved someone in Jesus’ name and for God’s glory? Have you told anyone about God’s amazing grace? Have you been quiet long enough to hear someone’s heart cry and offer the greatest gift of all, Jesus? Slowly and prayer- fully, read John 1:1-14. Pray you will live the words of the old spiritual, “Go tell it on the mountain...and ev’rywhere...that Jesus Christ is born!”
Day 5
Be surprised by Joy...Meditate on John 16: 20. You will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Learn the discipline of being surprised not by suffering but by joy. Be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain. With a heart trusting that we will get what we need, and a spirit always surprised by joy, we will walk through this weary world participating in and witnessing miracles.
The Weary World Rejoices: Help One Another
What should we do?
Day 1: Read Luke 3:7–18. Wouldn't we love to have some general outline of what it is we should be doing - to know what exactly is God's will for our lives? In a book I read recently, the heroine is about to embark on an exciting, scary, unknown adventure for which she feels ill-prepared. When she asks advice from a wise woman about what she should do, the woman tells her to simply focus on what's ahead. Maybe that is good advice for all of us. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about having the right skills at the right time or look back on where we've been or try to plan out ahead the adven- ture of our life, but instead really focus on what's ahead of us. What opportunities to help one another are right in the path of our every day lives. These opportunities may often seem like potholes to avoid or construction zones to detour around until we find the smooth road again, but maybe what we are called to do is to mend the road we are on.
Follow my example.
Day 2: Read Philippians 4:8-9. Paul offers another clue about what we should do to help one another. First, we need to look and find where there is good, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and excellent work being done in the world and think about that. Next, we need to do the things that we have learned, received, heard and seen from people doing this work. That first step may seem like a giant leap for us, but by following the example of another, we can find a measure of comfort that at least someone else has scouted the way ahead.
Always be gentle with others.
Day 3: Read Philippians 4:1-7. One thing you may not expect to encounter when trying to help another is resistance. Sometimes helping another means altering the status quo and that's where help meets passive, active and sometimes even angry resistance. With change, someone is going to have to give something up and even if it is for the greater good, that's not a normal human reaction. In our quick fix, just do it culture, the mantra we've learned is that "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." According to Paul, tough- ness is not going to get the job done, but gentleness, prayer and a thankful heart will bless us with the peace we need to carry on.
God is here to help you.
Day 4: Read Isaiah 12. It's interesting to me that the lectionary reading excludes verse 1 - the one where God is angry. While we don't know why the Psalmist felt God was angry with him, we can hear his relief and joy as he experienced comfort, strength and salvation from his Lord God. When we find ourselves in need of help, sometimes we may feel that "the world" is against us or that we are victims of circumstance or even that God has abandoned us and yet as Christians we are challenged to trust, to not be afraid and to look for the one in our midst who is here to help us.
I will lead you home.
Day 5: Read Zephaniah 3:14–20. Kelly Fryer writes that "God is on a mission to bless the world and bring it back home - holy and whole." Not only that, but "God wants us to help". If that's true, we've got a big job ahead of us and the truth is we probably won't be around to find out how things turn out. We might not recognize any of the ripples of love left by our acts of kindness, but I guess that's not really the point. We are going to get discouraged, frustrated, angered and saddened by the state of the affairs in the world, but that will be no excuse not to continue following God's way. God designed us with a purpose to help one another and as we struggle to fulfill this purpose, take comfort that God is with us leading us home.
Day 1: Read Luke 3:7–18. Wouldn't we love to have some general outline of what it is we should be doing - to know what exactly is God's will for our lives? In a book I read recently, the heroine is about to embark on an exciting, scary, unknown adventure for which she feels ill-prepared. When she asks advice from a wise woman about what she should do, the woman tells her to simply focus on what's ahead. Maybe that is good advice for all of us. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about having the right skills at the right time or look back on where we've been or try to plan out ahead the adven- ture of our life, but instead really focus on what's ahead of us. What opportunities to help one another are right in the path of our every day lives. These opportunities may often seem like potholes to avoid or construction zones to detour around until we find the smooth road again, but maybe what we are called to do is to mend the road we are on.
Follow my example.
Day 2: Read Philippians 4:8-9. Paul offers another clue about what we should do to help one another. First, we need to look and find where there is good, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and excellent work being done in the world and think about that. Next, we need to do the things that we have learned, received, heard and seen from people doing this work. That first step may seem like a giant leap for us, but by following the example of another, we can find a measure of comfort that at least someone else has scouted the way ahead.
Always be gentle with others.
Day 3: Read Philippians 4:1-7. One thing you may not expect to encounter when trying to help another is resistance. Sometimes helping another means altering the status quo and that's where help meets passive, active and sometimes even angry resistance. With change, someone is going to have to give something up and even if it is for the greater good, that's not a normal human reaction. In our quick fix, just do it culture, the mantra we've learned is that "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." According to Paul, tough- ness is not going to get the job done, but gentleness, prayer and a thankful heart will bless us with the peace we need to carry on.
God is here to help you.
Day 4: Read Isaiah 12. It's interesting to me that the lectionary reading excludes verse 1 - the one where God is angry. While we don't know why the Psalmist felt God was angry with him, we can hear his relief and joy as he experienced comfort, strength and salvation from his Lord God. When we find ourselves in need of help, sometimes we may feel that "the world" is against us or that we are victims of circumstance or even that God has abandoned us and yet as Christians we are challenged to trust, to not be afraid and to look for the one in our midst who is here to help us.
I will lead you home.
Day 5: Read Zephaniah 3:14–20. Kelly Fryer writes that "God is on a mission to bless the world and bring it back home - holy and whole." Not only that, but "God wants us to help". If that's true, we've got a big job ahead of us and the truth is we probably won't be around to find out how things turn out. We might not recognize any of the ripples of love left by our acts of kindness, but I guess that's not really the point. We are going to get discouraged, frustrated, angered and saddened by the state of the affairs in the world, but that will be no excuse not to continue following God's way. God designed us with a purpose to help one another and as we struggle to fulfill this purpose, take comfort that God is with us leading us home.
Christmas Miracle Offering - South West Virginia Ministry
One of the recipients of this year’s Christmas Miracle Offering is the South West Virginia Ministry Outreach of Peace, benefiting the people of Dickenson County, VA. Dickenson County is listed as the second poorest county in the United States. A group of Peace members have traveled to Dickenson County and feel God’s call to serve there: to share God’s love and be a blessing; to make a difference in lives that have known so much poverty, despair, and hopelessness.
Thus far, Peace is working through the Binns-Counts Community Center in this area to provide winter clothing for area residents; to provide new socks and underwear for approximately 500 children; and to supply gently used computers to upgrade the community center’s computer lab where classes are offered to help people build new job skills. Peace is also taking a group of adults and youth down to Binns-Counts the week of July 20-26, 2010, primarily to work on housing repairs. Funds from the Christmas Miracle Offering will be used to help meet additional needs uncovered by the ministry team as they continue to work closely with the Binns-Count Community Center Program Coordinator.
Dickenson County is truly an impoverished area. Here are a few statistics taken from the 2000 U.S. census:
* Total population of the county – 16,395
* In labor force (16 years+) – 41.7% (as compared with U.S. 63.9%)
* Per capita income in 1999 $12,822 (compared with U.S. $21,587)
* Household income less than $15,000 – 33%
* Families with income less than $10,000 – 548
* Families below poverty level – 16.9% (U.S. 9.2%)
* Families below poverty level w/children under 18 yrs – 24.2%
* Individuals below poverty level – 21.3% (U.S. 12.4%)
"Binns-Counts Community Center sits in the Cumberland Plateau region of Appalachia in Dickenson County—one of the coalfield counties of Virginia. Located on Route 63 between Nora and McClure, the center serves residents of Dickenson County as well as some in nearby Russell and Wise. The Mission of the center states: We are a non-profit grassroots organization established in 1974. We are committed to education, health care and decent housing for all. We are directed by a board of community people and staffed mainly by volunteers. We work in partnership with college, community and church groups."
Thus far, Peace is working through the Binns-Counts Community Center in this area to provide winter clothing for area residents; to provide new socks and underwear for approximately 500 children; and to supply gently used computers to upgrade the community center’s computer lab where classes are offered to help people build new job skills. Peace is also taking a group of adults and youth down to Binns-Counts the week of July 20-26, 2010, primarily to work on housing repairs. Funds from the Christmas Miracle Offering will be used to help meet additional needs uncovered by the ministry team as they continue to work closely with the Binns-Count Community Center Program Coordinator.
Dickenson County is truly an impoverished area. Here are a few statistics taken from the 2000 U.S. census:
* Total population of the county – 16,395
* In labor force (16 years+) – 41.7% (as compared with U.S. 63.9%)
* Per capita income in 1999 $12,822 (compared with U.S. $21,587)
* Household income less than $15,000 – 33%
* Families with income less than $10,000 – 548
* Families below poverty level – 16.9% (U.S. 9.2%)
* Families below poverty level w/children under 18 yrs – 24.2%
* Individuals below poverty level – 21.3% (U.S. 12.4%)
"Binns-Counts Community Center sits in the Cumberland Plateau region of Appalachia in Dickenson County—one of the coalfield counties of Virginia. Located on Route 63 between Nora and McClure, the center serves residents of Dickenson County as well as some in nearby Russell and Wise. The Mission of the center states: We are a non-profit grassroots organization established in 1974. We are committed to education, health care and decent housing for all. We are directed by a board of community people and staffed mainly by volunteers. We work in partnership with college, community and church groups."
Christmas Miracle Offering - Building Goodness Foundation
One of the local recipients of the this year's CMO is the Charlottesville based non-profit organization, Building Goodness Foundation (BGF). Peace funds are earmarked for a project with the Mattoponi. The Mattoponi People are part of the Algonquin Nation of the Powhatan Confederacy. The Mattaponi Indian Reservation is one of the last and oldest of the 32 tribes that were ruled by Chief Powhatan. The great Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahantas, ruled most of Tidewater, Virginia when Europeans arrived in 1607. The story of Pocahantas and Captain John Smith began here.
Through the years both the Reservation's physical size and the number of Tribal members have been diminished. Today the Reservation consists of mostly woodlands and marsh, a portion being protected wetlands. At present nearly 60 people live on the Reservation. The Reservation sits on the banks of the Mattoponi River, one of the most pristine rivers in the Eastern United States. There are a small number of living facilities on the Reservation. The Peace Christmas Miracle Offering is earmarked for an identified need. The next project that BGF will undertake on the Reservation is the replacement of a worn out old trailer home. Two orphaned Tribal teenagers presently live in the trailer. Funds are needed in order for Building Goodness Foundation to proceed. Completed drawings have already been donated for the home. Next, BGF will use its resources of volunteer labor and reduced material costs to construct a modest durable wood framed home. Once complete it will allow these two young Tribal members to stay on the land, near family. The home will be owned by the Tribe and be passed on to future generations of Mattaponi Indians.
Through the years both the Reservation's physical size and the number of Tribal members have been diminished. Today the Reservation consists of mostly woodlands and marsh, a portion being protected wetlands. At present nearly 60 people live on the Reservation. The Reservation sits on the banks of the Mattoponi River, one of the most pristine rivers in the Eastern United States. There are a small number of living facilities on the Reservation. The Peace Christmas Miracle Offering is earmarked for an identified need. The next project that BGF will undertake on the Reservation is the replacement of a worn out old trailer home. Two orphaned Tribal teenagers presently live in the trailer. Funds are needed in order for Building Goodness Foundation to proceed. Completed drawings have already been donated for the home. Next, BGF will use its resources of volunteer labor and reduced material costs to construct a modest durable wood framed home. Once complete it will allow these two young Tribal members to stay on the land, near family. The home will be owned by the Tribe and be passed on to future generations of Mattaponi Indians.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27.
The Weary World Rejoices: Help in the Wilderness
Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the Baptizer's voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi's prophesy could as easily herald the coming Lord Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and assist all flesh in capturing a vision of the "salvation of God."
After Four Hundred Years of Silence
Day 1: When Malachi’s pen fell silent in about 430 B.C., so did the prophetic voice in Israel…that is, until John the Baptist appeared on the scene in Judea. Read Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1-2; Mark 1:1-8; and Luke 3:1-6. Isaiah and Malachi prepared God’s people to watch for a special messenger, a messenger who would herald the Messiah, who is the living Message! At the exact moment in history, according to God’s perfect plan, John the Baptist came to prepare the people for the Savior. In this busy Christmas season, do you take time to listen for the Spirit’s voice calling you to embrace the Message? Create silence for Scripture, prayer, and listening to the Spirit’s voice.
Day 2: What do you know about John the Baptist? His father was a priest; his mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Mary, mother of Jesus. Read Luke 1:1-25,36,39-45,57-80 and John 1:6-9,15-28. From before John’s conception, God had a plan for his life. John would point people to Jesus. Consider that it is God’s plan for each of us to help others see Jesus. John’s life was focused on what was most important (notice his first reaction to “meeting” Jesus: Luke 1:44). On what or whom is your life focused this week? Ask the Spirit to help you point someone to Jesus.
Day 3: At exactly the right time in history, the word of God came to John. The expression the word of God came is the same expression used in reference to God’s message coming to Old Testament prophets (Jeremiah 1:1-2; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1…); John speaks with authority, for he speaks God’s heart to the people; he is God’s chosen messenger. When we read God’s Word, do we read it as words written by men or as God’s message? What difference does the perspective make? Read Luke 3:1-6; what is God saying to the people through the voice of John? What is God saying to you? Ask God to help you make this Advent season a time of preparing to encounter Jesus.
Prepare the Way for the Lord
Day 4: In ancient times, because roads were not good, a king planning to travel sent a courier ahead to tell the people to prepare the roads, to make them as level and straight as possible. John didn’t come to tell people to do road repair, he came to tell them to prepare their hearts for the King. Read Mark 1:4-5 and Luke 3:1-6. To what internal preparation did John call the people? What was the external or public act that attested to their repentance? Why is it important that we realize we are sinners? Read Matthew 1:21 and 1 John 1:5-10. Reflect on your need for the Savior and on God’s immeasurablelove for you.
Day 5: Luke 3:1-6 and John 1:1-34 speak of God-ordained preparation for the revealing of Jesus as Savior. John the Baptist is the messenger sent to prepare hearts to receive Jesus, the Message. Where was John when God’s word came to him (3:2)? Why might the desert/wilderness be a fitting place to hear God’s voice? And then he pointed people to Jesus. If we are to see God’s salvation and then share the glorious Good News with others, we need time apart to hear God’s voice.
After Four Hundred Years of Silence
Day 1: When Malachi’s pen fell silent in about 430 B.C., so did the prophetic voice in Israel…that is, until John the Baptist appeared on the scene in Judea. Read Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1-2; Mark 1:1-8; and Luke 3:1-6. Isaiah and Malachi prepared God’s people to watch for a special messenger, a messenger who would herald the Messiah, who is the living Message! At the exact moment in history, according to God’s perfect plan, John the Baptist came to prepare the people for the Savior. In this busy Christmas season, do you take time to listen for the Spirit’s voice calling you to embrace the Message? Create silence for Scripture, prayer, and listening to the Spirit’s voice.
Day 2: What do you know about John the Baptist? His father was a priest; his mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Mary, mother of Jesus. Read Luke 1:1-25,36,39-45,57-80 and John 1:6-9,15-28. From before John’s conception, God had a plan for his life. John would point people to Jesus. Consider that it is God’s plan for each of us to help others see Jesus. John’s life was focused on what was most important (notice his first reaction to “meeting” Jesus: Luke 1:44). On what or whom is your life focused this week? Ask the Spirit to help you point someone to Jesus.
Day 3: At exactly the right time in history, the word of God came to John. The expression the word of God came is the same expression used in reference to God’s message coming to Old Testament prophets (Jeremiah 1:1-2; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1…); John speaks with authority, for he speaks God’s heart to the people; he is God’s chosen messenger. When we read God’s Word, do we read it as words written by men or as God’s message? What difference does the perspective make? Read Luke 3:1-6; what is God saying to the people through the voice of John? What is God saying to you? Ask God to help you make this Advent season a time of preparing to encounter Jesus.
Prepare the Way for the Lord
Day 4: In ancient times, because roads were not good, a king planning to travel sent a courier ahead to tell the people to prepare the roads, to make them as level and straight as possible. John didn’t come to tell people to do road repair, he came to tell them to prepare their hearts for the King. Read Mark 1:4-5 and Luke 3:1-6. To what internal preparation did John call the people? What was the external or public act that attested to their repentance? Why is it important that we realize we are sinners? Read Matthew 1:21 and 1 John 1:5-10. Reflect on your need for the Savior and on God’s immeasurablelove for you.
Day 5: Luke 3:1-6 and John 1:1-34 speak of God-ordained preparation for the revealing of Jesus as Savior. John the Baptist is the messenger sent to prepare hearts to receive Jesus, the Message. Where was John when God’s word came to him (3:2)? Why might the desert/wilderness be a fitting place to hear God’s voice? And then he pointed people to Jesus. If we are to see God’s salvation and then share the glorious Good News with others, we need time apart to hear God’s voice.
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