Dawn Rises on the Desert
Greetings in the Lord!
A word from Mark 1:1-8)
"The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written to Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way'--'a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'
And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: 'After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'"
This is and continues to be a special season--one of the Lord sending out people to the "desert region" to preach to the people about the forgiveness of sins and coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew it says it a bit differently: Jesus is "coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire," meaning judgement of the wicked and unrepentant. That's why in several places in the Old Testament the word says to "seek the Lord while He may be found," because when the Lord's presence does come on the scene, its a little too late to make excuses for your behavior.
But today's word comes from Mark, the shortest of the gospel stories and somewhat abbreviated at times. And the focus is on the ones being sent out, like John. He probably seemed a bit peculiar, maybe somewhat of a loner, and wasn't interested in fancy clothes or fine foods. No, he lived simply--probably more so others could see his protest against self-indulgence and the luxuries and desires of this world. He stood out, went against the grain, a salmon swimming upstream--sure of his purpose in doing so, and could lead others on the same path with as much confidence.
But John encounters his days of personal struggle, too. Later, after his preaching landed him in jail, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him again: are you the One I preached about? Are you indeed the Christ? Yeah, he was going through a touch patch--in prison, abused, with death right around the corner, he needed assurance that how he'd been spending his life wasn't an exercise in futility. Likewise, today's word is to encourage all of those sent to "desert regions" to remain faithful, to continue pursuing the call on your life, like the salmon swimming upstream. Though you've had struggles and setbacks, entanglements and pitfalls, God is reconfirming your purpose and will fill your mouth with His words. Simply trust and obey, for their really is no other way. You cannot turn back now, you've come too far. Press on, in Christ we are strong; in Christ there is life. We must remain attached to the Vine and do all that we've been called to do.
This is a breakthrough and breakout season! The Lord comes, His presence is almost in your desert region. Don't worry, it is always the darkest right before the dawn starts to rise. Look past your downfalls and push past the hindrances--a new day comes, full of the Presence of the Lord.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
A word from Mark 1:1-8)
"The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written to Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way'--'a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'
And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: 'After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'"
This is and continues to be a special season--one of the Lord sending out people to the "desert region" to preach to the people about the forgiveness of sins and coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew it says it a bit differently: Jesus is "coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire," meaning judgement of the wicked and unrepentant. That's why in several places in the Old Testament the word says to "seek the Lord while He may be found," because when the Lord's presence does come on the scene, its a little too late to make excuses for your behavior.
But today's word comes from Mark, the shortest of the gospel stories and somewhat abbreviated at times. And the focus is on the ones being sent out, like John. He probably seemed a bit peculiar, maybe somewhat of a loner, and wasn't interested in fancy clothes or fine foods. No, he lived simply--probably more so others could see his protest against self-indulgence and the luxuries and desires of this world. He stood out, went against the grain, a salmon swimming upstream--sure of his purpose in doing so, and could lead others on the same path with as much confidence.
But John encounters his days of personal struggle, too. Later, after his preaching landed him in jail, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him again: are you the One I preached about? Are you indeed the Christ? Yeah, he was going through a touch patch--in prison, abused, with death right around the corner, he needed assurance that how he'd been spending his life wasn't an exercise in futility. Likewise, today's word is to encourage all of those sent to "desert regions" to remain faithful, to continue pursuing the call on your life, like the salmon swimming upstream. Though you've had struggles and setbacks, entanglements and pitfalls, God is reconfirming your purpose and will fill your mouth with His words. Simply trust and obey, for their really is no other way. You cannot turn back now, you've come too far. Press on, in Christ we are strong; in Christ there is life. We must remain attached to the Vine and do all that we've been called to do.
This is a breakthrough and breakout season! The Lord comes, His presence is almost in your desert region. Don't worry, it is always the darkest right before the dawn starts to rise. Look past your downfalls and push past the hindrances--a new day comes, full of the Presence of the Lord.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
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