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Thursday, January 3, 2008
Turn from Your Sins!
So John the Baptizer came and was baptizing people in the
desert area. He told the people to be baptized to show they
wanted to change their lives. Then their sins would be
forgiven.
-- Mark 1:4 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God's messenger was John. He was called The Baptist, or The Baptizer,
because he baptized folks who came to him wanting to change their lives
to align with the will of God. John's mission was to prepare people for
the coming of the promised Christ. The purposes of this baptism were to
demonstrate people's turning from sin to God and to receive the
forgiveness of God. What can we learn from John's mission for our lives
today? First, God uses human messengers to reach the hearts of those
seeking to find him. Someone is out there seeking for God and God can
use you or me to be that messenger! Second, seeking God involves two
things: we turn to God and turn away from our sins. Third, everyone
needs the forgiveness of God; none of us is righteous and holy on our
efforts. In other words, we need God's gracious forgiveness. So I guess
that each of us can choose the message that he or she needs to hear
most clearly today. Have I come to God to receive his forgiveness and
grace? Have I truly turned to God and away from sin? To whom will I be
God's messenger?
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father in heaven, you are holy and awesome. Your power is beyond my
comprehension. As I think about praying to you, I am humbled that you
would hear me. Thank you for your gracious forgiveness that you have
shared with me through the gift of your Son. I commit my life to you
and I turn my back on sin in an effort to flee its grip on me. As a
recipient of your grace, please help me see the person, or people, for
whom I can be your messenger. In Jesus' name. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
>> available as a book. Click below to order!
http://images.ultracart.com/aff/ACU9/1414/108/185/575/0/index.html
>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/mark/0103-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Mark+1:4&sr=1&t=erv
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