Baptism of the Lord: Monday, January 8, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 40:12-23

This is one of those passages in the Bible where the read is questioned, do you really know what you are talking about? Were you there when God knit together the foundations of the earth? Can you contemplate the mysteries of God? Do you know what all God has done, can do, and will do?

And, this gives me a bit of peace. Why? I am not the only one that struggles with sin and temptation, and neither are you. In fact, our sins and temptations are not unique to us, in fact, we are not the only ones to struggle with them.

Do you not know that God has helped other triumph over the sin that defeats you? Do you not know that God has helped others emerge from the battle you face? Do you not know that God has seen and defeated your sin before? We can go to Him for help for He had helped others, just like you and me. We are not the first redeemed sinner He had helped, nor will we be the last.

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 1:1-14

This passage reminds us that God was at work for our redemption before the foundations of the world were even laid in place. God has been working for your salvation before you could ever imagine. You are not here by chance; God has something for you. You have so much you can do through Him and for Him. He longs to see you grow closer and know Him more, and will do everything in His power to help you.

The question is will we go as far for God and He has gone for us.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 1:1-13

We see for Jesus that His ministry didn't stop at His baptism, instead that is when it began. If we are going to be like Jesus, we must learn that ministry, that the Christian life does not end at the alter, it begins there. The goal of salvation is to live for God, not just to be converted. In fact, conversion is truly about living for God in all that we do. And, the question is not have we walked to the alter, the question is not have we been baptized, the question is are we truly converted, are we truly living for God in all that we do.

That is what it mean to be Christian, to know Him as Savior, and to live for Him in all that we do. That is our calling, that should be our lives. Are we doing it?