Verse of the Day 12/6

 

Matthew 3:1-2   In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!"  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Yesterday we considered a few of the lines from Matt Maher's song "Turn Around" , "if you're looking for a Savior all you gotta do is turn around".  In the Bible turning around means repentance.  The message of John the Baptist was to turn from the ways of the world and to look for the coming Savior.

 

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, #87 we read, "the motive for repentance is not only sorrow for sin but also a sense of the mercy of God in Christ.  We have zero motivation to repent, unless we see the mercy of God awaiting us.  Not the slap of God, but the embrace of God.  Repentance is not just turning from sin, not even that primarily.  Repentance is primarily turning to God, moment by moment, because he has promised his mercy to the penitent."

 

In this Christmas season may we be turning to God moment by moment.  Instead of spending so much time looking for that perfect gift, competing with the crowds at the stores, why not spend more time thinking and worshipping God for the perfect gift that has already been given?  Pastor Greg Laurie writes, " the message of the season is not, "Let it snow" or even, "Let us shop." The real message of Christmas is, "Let us worship." That is what the wise men came to do. And that is what we should be doing as well."

 

We sing the hymn that says "come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King".  The call to come and worship is a call to turn to the newborn King this season.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Matthew 3
New International Version (NIV)  John the Baptist Prepares the Way

 

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

 

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.'"