PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 3:1-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2)
The word ‘repent’ literally means a change of mind or thinking.
Change the way you are thinking about God, life, the world, what matters most, etc.
John calls for this radical rethink because the kingdom of the heavens (God) is near.
That is, the God that rules over everything is about to show up.
If you knew for sure that God was going to show up today, what would you change?
Would you re-evaluate how you live, what your priorities are, and what you are doing?
John quotes Isaiah to describe what he is doing: preparing the way for God’s coming.
Getting rid of the barriers and hindrances that stand between God and the people.
So what are the things in my life that stand in the way between me and God.
Jesus is how God appears, and he turns the whole world upside down (or right-side up).
He challenges the status quo, he prioritizes the weak, the lowly, the needy, the oppressed.
He also corrects peoples’ ideas about God; he is a loving Father, not an angry judge.
He makes it clear that God’s priority is gracious love, and that ours should be too.
If Jesus were to come today, how might you rethink your life, and change your ways?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that John is still preparing the way for you in our lives. Help me to not just urge others to rethink, help me to rethink myself, and remove the barriers that stand between me and you and God!
John is calling for hearts to be open to the coming of Jesus – so that they might receive Him. He is calling also: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’ calling that Jesus might have a straight path to my heart HS be present in my heart I pray that I might serve you!
The kingdom of heaven is certainly much nearer today than yesterday. Each and every day I need to repent of my wrongs and walk in His Light, the SonShine of Jesus Who forgives so that I can live for Him. I remember a story I was told – when Luther was asked what he would be doing if Christ came today. His reply was that he would be doing what he was doing, working in His garden. All what I say and do needs to be for Christ. I need to be living in word and deed for Jesus. All for Him.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.