Verse of the Day 12/18
Mark 1:2-3 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
"Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'" English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's verses come from the beginning of the gospel of Mark where he writes of how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most beloved hymns of the Christmas season is Joy to the World, which states "let every heart prepare Him room". The Advent Season is one of preparation for the coming of Jesus, for the greatest gift, His presence among us, Immanuel, God is with us.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote, "The world today is hungry not only for bread but hungry for love; hungry to be wanted, to be loved. They're hungry to feel that presence of Christ. In many countries, people have everything except that presence, that understanding. That's why the life of prayer and sacrifice comes to give that love. Through your dedication, you are to be that presence, that bread of God to break. People are hungry for the Word of God that will give peace, that will give unity, that will give joy. But you cannot give what you don't have. That's why it is necessary to deepen your life of prayer. Allow Jesus to take you, pray with you and through you…We are called to love the world. And God loved the world so much that he gave Jesus. Today he loves the world so much that he gives you and he gives me to be his love, his compassion, and that presence, that life of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God." As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, may we not be so concerned about the presents but be more concerned about His presence. He has already given it to us but may it be upon our hearts to share "his love, his compassion, and that presence, that life of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God", giving of ourselves because He has so richly given to us His presence every day of the year.
Joy to the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
Let the earth receive her king
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let men their songs employ
Joy to the world, now we sing
Repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Mark 1:1-6 The Message (MSG)
John the Baptizer
1 1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you;
He'll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.
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