SATURDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2023
TEXT:
Luke 3:1-22
1:
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was
governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of
Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—
2:
during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John
son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3:
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4:
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of
one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight
paths for him.
5:
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked
roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
6:
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
7:
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8:
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these
stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
9:
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not
produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10:
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11:
John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has
none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12:
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we
do?”
13:
“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14:
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t
extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
15:
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if
John might possibly be the Messiah.
16:
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful
than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17:
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather
the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18:
And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news
to them.
19:
But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias,
his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,
20:
Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
21:
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was
praying, heaven was opened
22:
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice
came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
LIVING OUT YOUR MINISTRY
As a Christian, your
ministry is not limited to the four walls of the church building.
Ministry involves
reaching out to people of different classes in the society spiritually,
socially, politically, etc.
Ministry could also be
narrowed down to one's own specific work of preaching the Gospel (cf. 2
Corinthians 5:18-21; 6:3).
Today's passage shows
us the ministry of John the Baptist and how he lived out this ministry. He
ministered to kings and priests, tax collectors, soldiers and ordinary people.
He lived out his ministry, which was "To fulfill prophecy and prepare the
way for Jesus Christ" (cf.Isaiah 40: 3-5; vs. 3-6).
John spoke with
boldness without minding whose ox is gored (vs.7-9) and had the courage to call
the soldiers "brood of vipers."
It is unfortunate that
in this election year, some politicians will promise the people heaven and
earth but when elected, they promptly forget these promises. We hope that such
politicians understand that they have an obligation to serve the electorate.
QUESTION:
Do you know that God has given you a ministry that you have to fulfill by
living it out?
PRAYER:
Lord God, help me to live out the ministry you have given me with boldness and
sincerity, no matter the opposition, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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