FRIDAY December 18, 2020
Prophet of the Highest
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins.”
Luke 1:76-77
In answer to prayer, God had given Zacharias a son in his old age. Zacharias the priest was filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to give a prophecy that also told of his son’s future ministry. The hand of the Lord was with John as he grew (Luke 1:66). He became strong in spirit and later lived in the area of the desert until his ministry began.
Zacharias’ son was chosen to be the messenger of God Most High. As the prophet of the Highest, he would herald the Messiah and make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He would call out to the people to repent so they could be forgiven of their sins (Matthew 3:1-3). He would become known as John the Baptist because he would baptize the people in the Jordan River (John 1:28).
As John the Baptist preached repentance, many people would be deeply convicted, and they would turn to Christ. Their hearts would be made ready for their coming Messiah. The Jews would send for the priests and Levites from Jerusalem to question John. They would inquire, “Who are you?” We can read John’s testimony in the Scriptures: He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20).
John the Baptist would proclaim to people: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ ” (John 1:23). This is just as the prophet Isaiah had said in Isaiah 40:3. John the Baptist always pointed people to Christ––the Son of God.
May God use your life to point people to Christ this Christmas! “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”
~Oswald J. Smith~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!