Saturday, May 4, 2013

May 4
Sense of Purpose
John 3:22-4:3    New English Translation (NET)
 
Further Testimony About Jesus by John the Baptist
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing. 23 John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming to him and being baptized. 24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 Now a dispute came about between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing. 26 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified—see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!”
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.”
31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
Departure From Judea
4 Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was winning and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), 3 he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee.
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Sent to perform a certain task, it is good to know the purpose behind it. We like to know the "why" s and "wherefore's" .
For John the Baptist, this was so very clear.
How do you think he knew so precisely his purpose?
It surely must have been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit of God.
He knew that he was NOT the Messiah.....the One and Only Son of God, even though the circumstances of his own birth were not the normal.....
He knew that Jesus was the One.
He knew that Jesus cmae to earth from heaven.
He knew that Jesus would gain in importance on the earth, as he himself would become less and less important.
He knew that ALL THINGS were placed under the authority of Jesus, the Son of God.
He knew that putting your faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God would mean salvation!
 
John's purpose was to teach and open the hearts of the people for the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
He knew and yet, did not rise up saying, "Hey what about me? I was here first. God is using me! I am important too!!!!"
No, he humbly and graciously relinquished his place in the eyes of the people....to the One he had been born to serve.
God says in his Word that He has a plan and a purpose for each one of us.
Pray and move forward in your own life, with a renewed sense of purpose to serve Him!
 
 
 

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