1/2/2011

John 1:33 “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Here John the Baptist is sharing with those around him of a revelation that God had given to him so that he might know who the Son of God was.

 I think it is interesting that in verse 31 it states how John could only baptize with water but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit. When John baptized with water, he was doing it out of obedience to what the Lord commanded him to do. In us there is nothing that gives us power but God graciously bestows the power that raised Jesus from the dead in us. Even though Jesus Christ had all of this power in Him, he did not flaunt it….John the Baptist did not even know Jesus before it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.

Application:

 Do I live my life to stand out or in humility (ordinary) while living out the power that God has given me in my life which is extraordinary?

1/3/2011

John 1:34-36 “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God,” Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

How fascinating….John didn’t stop once to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is an excellent word for me in my life because I need to challenge myself… How often do I proclaim the word of God once and think, “Good I am covered now…I don’t need to keep sharing because I have already done it once.”?

This is a reminder to me to never stop sharing my testimony with others…as time goes on my testimony does not fade but because more powerful as I draw closer to God. Share…God has allowed me to go through different situations in my life and I need to be using what He taught me during those moments to share with others.

1/4/2011

John 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Here the disciples heard John the Baptist proclaim that Jesus was the Son of God (vs. 36) and immediately follow Jesus. It is very interesting to me how these disciples just drop whatever they were doing beforehand and follow. They were eager to pursue truth.

When I see truth, an opportunity to partake of the things of God, do I drop everything and follow in hot pursuit? I want this to be said about me…that when I hear or see of an opportunity that God is clearly giving me, I wholly pursue it.

Application:

As I am looking ahead to all that next year holds for me, I need to be willing but also ready in my heart to do whatever He asks of me. I want to pursue truth and anything outside of His calling for my life is false.