DAY 41

DATE:  2/10/2013

Good Morning!  My name is Dave Wilgus and I was asked to give you a devotional thought from the book of Mark chapters 1 and 4.

KEY VERSE:  Mark 1:2-4

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

REFLECTIONS:

Throughout the Old Testament are recorded messengers (prophets) who would proclaim the coming of a Messiah that would bring judgment and would discern between the righteous and the wicked.  In bridging the Old Testament with the New Testament, John the Baptist appears in this text, fulfilling the prophecy of the Elijah to come (Mal. 4:5, Matt. 11:14), to continue on with notice that a Messiah would come to take away the sin of the world.  A prophetic silence has been broken in these verses. While previous Jewish groups practiced ritual water cleansing, John was called to preach the baptism of repentance.

APPLICATION:

As John the Baptist was sent forth to prepare the way for the Messiah, it is also our commission to prepare the way to the lost by sharing our faith at every opportunity. We also are called to encourage a call to repentance with those we come in contact with.

Thank you for being a part of the Route 66 Bible Reading Challenge.  Thanks for reading, and you have a blessed day!

In Christ,

Dave

WHEN YOU GOT SAVED:  Spring of 1976

FAVORITE BIBLE BOOK:  Psalms

FAMILY:  My wife of 40 years, 3 children DJ, Amy, and Rusty

OCCUPATION:  Retired auto Worker

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT AT VBC:  Nursing home and love to greet people

DREAM VACATION:  Fishing in NW Wisconsin

HOBBIES:  Writing and sharing the gospel