WEDNESDAY December 22, 2021
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 lengthy prophecy. It included 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––the prophet of the Highest, and, as such, he would herald the coming Messiah to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He would boldly call out to people to repent so that 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, people would be deeply convicted, and they turned 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 1:19-20).
John the Baptist would proclaim to those who came from Jerusalem: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (Isaiah 40:3, John 1:23). He always pointed people to Christ.
Will you allow God to use your life to point other people to Christ this Christmas?
“The Christian life is a pilgrimage from earth to heaven, and our task is to take as many possible with us as we make this journey.”
~Warren W. Wiersbe~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
