It is blustery but a beautiful day overall, Father. We are in the “dead” of winter, just a little green in the grass, but I know there is life. Just this morning I saw a deer, a falcon, a hawk, a squirrel and at least one cat – and that was just from the driver’s seat of my bus! Thank You for the diversity of Your creation. May we cherish and protect it. Amen.

Mark 1:4-8 (<<click to read the passage)

One of the biggest struggles in our Christian journey is being contented with the status quo. Some have been saved out of the “deep miry clay”, as it were, but even they in a matter of time become “settled”. Don’t rock the boat! I’m good, why change things up? My ticket’s been punched and I’m on my way to heaven, so why bother?

John the Baptist was a boat rocker! He was most definitely a man of transition. Notes in the Amplified Bible state that he was “considered the last of the Old Testament prophets”. There had been no prophetic word from God since Malachi, a span of almost 400 years! A prophet of God was highly anticipated – even by common folk – and John the Baptist fleshed out that role well.

He was a prophet and like the prophets of old, he wasn’t soft and gentle. He was rough and tumble, caring not what anyone else said but totally devoted to what God was saying. Matthew’s Gospel records him laying into the Pharisees and Sadducees calling them “snakes” accusing them of trying to “flee God’s wrath”. (Matthew 3:7)

In today’s passage, he took something familiar – baptism – and switched it up, giving it new meaning. Converts to Judaism were baptized but John preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [that is, requiring a change of one’s old way of thinking, turning away from sin and seeking God and His righteousness].” (Mark 1:4 AMP)

It was a huge switch up from the norm but what an impact it made!

Lord Jesus, so often we are happy where we find ourselves…but maybe our boats need to be rocked! We have become complacent. It takes work to be vitally connected with You. It takes communication – nothing complex – just consistent heartfelt interaction with You. Listening. Following. Obeying. Yielding. May we all be willing to make a huge switch up from the norm if that’s what we need to do. Amen!

Jan 8th, 2019, Tues, 11:17 am