-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)
Psalms 121:1-4(NLT) I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
This Psalm has some of the greatest lines of poetry in it. “Shall I lift my eyes up to the hills?” the psalmist asks. The song was sung as the pilgrims ascended from Jericho uphill to Jerusalem for the feast days there at the temple. The pagan worship places were often on the top of hills where the Astaroth and Baal idols were worshipped. The decision that we make is whether we will look to the hilltops of this earth or look to our God who made the heavens and the earth. It seems an easy choice but we must consciously and willfully decide that this is where we are going to look and where to follow. The world gives us religious thoughts and activities which are not truly Christian but close. We need to raise our sights above the hills and purposes of this world to God above.
Where is our sight aimed? What are the things that are close to our heart?
What a rich set of readings from the Word today. After the uplifting of the Psalm 121 to build up our renewed minds to look to our God, we now read about John the Baptist and the ministry that he fulfills. We don’t have to wonder who he is and what God has planned for him to do as Isaiah gives us the picture.
Luke 3:3-6(NLT) Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!
Clear the road for him!
5 The valleys will be filled,
and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.
6 And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.’”
(From Is 40:3-5 if you are interested in looking it up.)
What is John’s true ministry?
Much of the teaching about John focuses on his coming before Jesus to prepare his way. This teaching is not completely true. John’s ministry is to come before Yahweh and prepare the way for repentance and change to bring the people back to God. This ministry will also get people to look for the coming Messiah who is very close to them physically and will become revealed very shortly. John is only months older than Jesus, and it would appear that both start their ministries when they are the age of 30 years, which in Jewish culture would be the minimum when you could start a ministry or teach.
The preparation that John preaches is the coming of the LORD who is God Almighty. God is going to reveal His Son the Messiah to the world, and then obviously this will reveal Him in the ministries that both men have. John is the servant of the most high God, and then Jesus as we will come to see is the ultimate faithful servant for God.
Luke 3:15-16(NLT) Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John tells them that Messiah is coming soon and will be the promised one of God bringing salvation and judgment to Israel and the whole world. John tells them that he can only baptize them with the water of repentance, but Messiah will baptize them with holy spirit and power. His message is of repentance for the people and that they will look to God to be obedient to God’s Law and promises. Then to look for the coming Messiah.
Where does John aim our vision?
What is the baptism of water and holy spirit mean today?
Now read from Isaiah 60 where the prophesy of Jesus coming and his ministry are foretold to Israel. Raise our sights again!
Isaiah 60:1-3(NLT) Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.
2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.
3 All nations will come to your light;
mighty kings will come to see your radiance.
And then even more specifically in Isaiah 61 where we see God telling His people about Messiah to come.
Isaiah 61:1-3(NLT) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
for the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the LORD’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
3 To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
What is it like to say that God will plant people like mighty oaks of righteousness?
What would be another way to say this?
By extension as spiritual children of Abraham we are the nations and Gentiles that are also blessed by the coming of Messiah. God desires for all men to be saved and to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. He sends his servants and prophets all through history to tell His story. The New Testament gives us the revealed picture and understanding of what Jesus has accomplished for all the people of the world. Repentance today is for people to make him Lord over their life and then believe that God has raised him from the dead.
What is the true confession of repentance that God requires of us?
Isaiah 61:10-11(NLT) I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
or a bride with her jewels.
11 The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world.
Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
with plants springing up everywhere.
Reflection Questions above in bold
Prayer
Father God, we thank you that we are planted as Your lush garden of spring. We thank you for planting us firmly as mighty oaks of righteousness showing Your power in our lives and establishing us as strong people of God. Father please give us understanding of the spirit and power You have given us, and help us to grow into the people of God You have called us to be. We praise Your Mighty Name and pray today in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
