FRIDAY December 8, 2023

The King’s Forerunner

“For he [John] will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:15-17

The angel Gabriel had just told Zacharias that Elizabeth, his aged wife, would conceive a son. He continued to tell him how the Lord was going to use his son’s life. Zacharias was to name his child John. He would be a special child set apart for God––a Nazarite. John would be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb! He would exhibit the same spirit and power as the prophet Elijah.

In his ministry, John would become known as John the Baptist. He would baptize many people in the Jordan River. He was Jesus’ cousin and played an important part in history as the King’s forerunner–––the forerunner to Christ. God would use his life to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. John fulfilled the prophecy spoken by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).

As God’s messenger, he would go before Christ to prepare God’s people for their coming King. His message was simple; he preached true repentance in hope that many of the children of Israel would turn their hearts to the Lord. John cried out: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). He made known to the multitudes that Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). This was John’s call and mission.

Over the years, John’s message has remained the same. Is your heart ready to receive the King born in a manger, now seated at the right hand of God––the One who will return one day to set up His kingdom?

This Christmas, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Give Him the gift that He wants––your heart, your soul, your life.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!