How Dare He Say That?!

Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/How-Dare-He-Say-That-e1rd9tu 1 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. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1-12 NIV Bible)

Happy Monday to you, dear Friend! I pray you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Weekend and that yesterday you worshiped God and welcomed this season of Advent. I thank you for your prayers for my cousin, but no one has shared an update on Joe's condition. I'm relying on "No news is good news!" Please pray for one another, lifting up all who are ill in the mighty name of Jesus. Pray for one another. Let these words of God's word, my thoughts, and your prayerful presence guide us to new levels of faithfulness before the Lord.

Last week I mentioned how we lovingly awakened our granddaughter who sweetly asked for five more minutes. In reading this passage, I sense the urgency in John's voice and call, and thought, Lord forbid, but if our home had been on fire, there was no way our wake up call would have been a sweet, "Sure honey, you can have five more minutes..." The voice grandpa would have used would have been heard by the neighbors! There would have been no concern for hurt feelings or misunderstandings about gentleness or what have you; this was a call to save our granddaughters and us. And, in the same way, John is urging his generation to the alarm that had to be sound. And the sad thing is that times haven't really changed all that much in terms of those who have heard the alarm, heeded it, and changed their lives. They march on lost, without a clue of the great love that God has shared to save and redeem them.

In the fullness of time, the stage was set for the One who would come in the name and spirit of God Whom we know as Jesus. We know of His birth and His ministry, but before that ministry began, the prophets who spoke the word of preparation, one would come who would make straight the path for the One who was to come after Him. And today's passage introduces us to a cousin of Jesus, named John. True to his calling as a prophet, or spokesperson for God, John dressed and lived the part. His suit was made of camel's har and he wore a leather belt and he ate locusts and wild honey. He was also not known for being a shy guy, this guy knew his role demanded his brash boldness to get people's attention. Using words straight from the Old Testament, he shouted, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him." And John had a message that, sadly, does not preach well in most US churches today. His words? "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near."

The word repent, when told to someone, indicates a behavior or lifestyle that is in need of ceasing or changing. It is an indictment of guilt. John was sharing what God had told him to share. And from God's viewpoint, the need was very evident that people were not living as they should. God knew their sin and the sin of humanity at that point. Sin was real and it had infected the people's spirits and minds, and the sin had to be removed. A call to repentance of sin does not usually fall on friendly and receptive ears. It becomes easy for resentment to set in, followed by anger. Yet, we read that during John's sermon, crowds lined up "from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan." John's message hit a need in most hearts and so people responded and wanted the freeing power of forgiveness for their lives. And so they presented themselves for baptism, the symbol of what had happened within; God had removed their sins. And they were warned that their newfound freedom, they should show fruits of true repentance. And then the words of preparation of He who was coming to do more.

Advent, as we have been studying, is a serious time. Yes, it does ready us for Jesus' birth celebration, but it is also about the need for us to be ready for His second return. Sin is still around and we still need Jesus. Friends, the house is on fire. We need to do something!

PRAYER: Loving God, in Your love and mercy, You send us John to prepare the way; then Your Son, Jesus, to save us. Help us to alert others to Your love and willingness to save us from our sins. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Help those around you whose homes are on fire.

Receive my blessings of joy and peace,

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.