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Journey to Bethlehem Day 14

Saturday, December 14 Matthew 3:1-12
 

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”


“… whose sandals I am not worthy to carry,”—that is a bold claim right there by John! Sandals are used for nothing more than a protecting the bottom of your feet. They are covered in dirt and sand. Yet John states he is not worthy enough to touch a dirt-ridden sandal. John understands the paradigm shift that Jesus is going to do. He knows that this is God incarnate, the Messiah, and the redeemer of our souls. So, He knows Jesus worth and humbles himself to the authority of Christ.
If John, the man called to prepare the way for the Messiah, believes he is not worthy, what makes you think you are? Sadly, we do not even ponder this sentiment. We think so highly of ourselves in our materialistic society that Jesus is not even a blip on the radar most days. So how can we change that? How can we have a mentality like John? A great way to start is to serve this season and to pray for a humble servant’s heart. Let the Master change you into a servant like John.


O God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough
for me. I can ask for nothing less that is completely to your
honor, and if I do ask anything less, I shall always be in want.
Only in you I have all. Amen.