Daily Word Of God
Matthew 3:1-6, 11
In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’
This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. He said to them, ‘I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah was led by the Holy Spirit to prepare the Israelites to recognize and accept Christ when He comes.
- Like John, Jesus wants us also to point others to follow the Truth of the Salvation that He is offering to all peoples. He is challenging us to reach out not only to non-believers, but also to believers who are skeptical and lukewarm.
- Is your faith in Jesus filled joy and zeal that urges you to share it with others through your Christian living and witnessing?