John 1:29-34
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said:
Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.
I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever been to an airport – particularly one in a major city – you have probably seen people standing at the gates holding signs that say things like “Smith” or “Adams Party” or ones that bear the name of a business, like XYZ Company. The driver holding the sign does not know the people he/she is collecting, but the people needing a ride will recognize this person by the sign bearing their name. Perhaps you have been given directions to someone’s office or place of business, and someone said to you, “You’ll know him right away – he has a dark beard, thick glasses, and dark curly hair.” Or maybe someone said, “Look for the tall girl with the blond hair,” or “Ask for Tom – tell them Bill sent you.”
Maybe you have said later, “I would have known So-and-so anywhere – your description was spot on!” Or maybe you have said to someone you just met, “Your reputation precedes you… XYZ has told me a lot about you already!”
We’ve been told a lot about Jesus… as much or more than John the Baptist! The question is… would we – do we – recognize Him? We see artists’ renderings of Jesus… how they believe He looked as a mortal man. Yet in the book Heaven is for Real, 4-year-old Colton Burpo looked at picture after picture and insisted, “That’s not Jesus!” When he was shown a painting by a 10-year-old girl who had experienced her own brush with death and a visit to heaven, he was so excited and told his parents that this was the picture of Jesus!
Now, I don’t know if Colton is right… I’ve seen a copy of the painting, and it is compelling – but I don’t know if it’s really Jesus in the flesh. But I do know this… when I get to heaven, I will know Him instantly! Meanwhile, I want to know Him now…to recognize when He speaks to me… to hear His instructions and follow His lead. I want to feel His arms embracing me even today… and to bask in His comfort, joy and peace. I hope you want this, too.
We have “signs and wonders” all around us. We have information and indications from Jesus about how to manage every single minute of the day… but we have to recognize Him and acknowledge His presence. Just as John knew about Jesus… just as he recognized God’s anointing of Him – the sign of the dove - we must recognize Jesus now… the “signs” of His presence and His power in our own lives. Are you hearing from God? Do you know Jesus… do you really know Him? Are you paying attention? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label John the Baptist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John the Baptist. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 6, 2010
Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I bought a new digital camera, I researched all of the major brands, read reviews, and compared prices and packages. One option was to choose a basic camera, see how things went, and then consider adding lenses and other accessories at a later date. Another option was to choose a “deluxe package” and get extra lenses, an external flash, tripod, carrying case, and even lens cleaner. The question became whether I wanted the basic, bare bones camera or whether I wanted the whole enchilada… the full experience (or potential for it!).
John the Baptist offered the message to choose God and the promise of heaven. He foretold of the coming of Jesus … Who would bring the “full experience”. Some of us heard the John the Baptist sermon and stopped, so to speak. We live in the world of forgiven sins, love for God and the promise of heaven. But we have never fully acknowledged Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit. We’ve never embraced our faith on a level where our hearts are filled with the fire and excitement of recognizing the Holy Spirit’s continual presence within us.
There seem to be a whole lot of “John the Baptist” Christians who have invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives and forgive their sins … but that’s where their walk with the Lord begins and ends. They are satisfied with the “basic package”. They live a good life, go to church and pray. They are nice to their neighbors, and most days, they are pretty content and confident. But Christians who have recognized the Holy Spirit and the “fire in the belly” of a continual relationship with Him have tapped into the potential for experiencing God on a level that is almost beyond description.
I bet if you think about it, you can name dozens of “John the Baptist” Christians, but naming those who appear to recognize their anointing by the Holy Spirit may be much more difficult. And only you know for sure which camp in which you fall these days. But the GOOD NEWS is that you can change camps! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a “John the Baptist” Christian. If you have invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you have chosen perfectly. But if you stopped at salvation, you’re missing out on all God wants to give you … and that’s a shame! God wants us to experience the presence of His Holy Spirit every day - all day. He wants us to operate in this anointing, companionship, and fire! He wants us to be so filled with His glory that we overflow with excitement, enthusiasm, joy and blessings.
John the Baptist said it best – if humbly. He knew that God had empowered him to share His message and to foretell the coming of Jesus. He was clearly chosen by God and given great responsibility. But he also realized that he was not even worthy to carry the shoes of Jesus … the One who brought the power of the Holy Spirit to His children. Just like salvation itself, the gift of the Holy Spirit is 100% free. It doesn’t cost us anything … there is nothing scary about it, and it doesn’t hurt! Haven’t we been “John the Baptist” Christians long enough? Isn’t it time to upgrade to the “Deluxe Package?” Won’t you invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I bought a new digital camera, I researched all of the major brands, read reviews, and compared prices and packages. One option was to choose a basic camera, see how things went, and then consider adding lenses and other accessories at a later date. Another option was to choose a “deluxe package” and get extra lenses, an external flash, tripod, carrying case, and even lens cleaner. The question became whether I wanted the basic, bare bones camera or whether I wanted the whole enchilada… the full experience (or potential for it!).
John the Baptist offered the message to choose God and the promise of heaven. He foretold of the coming of Jesus … Who would bring the “full experience”. Some of us heard the John the Baptist sermon and stopped, so to speak. We live in the world of forgiven sins, love for God and the promise of heaven. But we have never fully acknowledged Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit. We’ve never embraced our faith on a level where our hearts are filled with the fire and excitement of recognizing the Holy Spirit’s continual presence within us.
There seem to be a whole lot of “John the Baptist” Christians who have invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives and forgive their sins … but that’s where their walk with the Lord begins and ends. They are satisfied with the “basic package”. They live a good life, go to church and pray. They are nice to their neighbors, and most days, they are pretty content and confident. But Christians who have recognized the Holy Spirit and the “fire in the belly” of a continual relationship with Him have tapped into the potential for experiencing God on a level that is almost beyond description.
I bet if you think about it, you can name dozens of “John the Baptist” Christians, but naming those who appear to recognize their anointing by the Holy Spirit may be much more difficult. And only you know for sure which camp in which you fall these days. But the GOOD NEWS is that you can change camps! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a “John the Baptist” Christian. If you have invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you have chosen perfectly. But if you stopped at salvation, you’re missing out on all God wants to give you … and that’s a shame! God wants us to experience the presence of His Holy Spirit every day - all day. He wants us to operate in this anointing, companionship, and fire! He wants us to be so filled with His glory that we overflow with excitement, enthusiasm, joy and blessings.
John the Baptist said it best – if humbly. He knew that God had empowered him to share His message and to foretell the coming of Jesus. He was clearly chosen by God and given great responsibility. But he also realized that he was not even worthy to carry the shoes of Jesus … the One who brought the power of the Holy Spirit to His children. Just like salvation itself, the gift of the Holy Spirit is 100% free. It doesn’t cost us anything … there is nothing scary about it, and it doesn’t hurt! Haven’t we been “John the Baptist” Christians long enough? Isn’t it time to upgrade to the “Deluxe Package?” Won’t you invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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