WEEKLY DEVOTION

— I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD,"' as the prophet Isaiah said." John 1:23 (Read 19-28)

Who was John the Baptist? He confessed that he was not the Christ, not Elijah, nor the Prophet promised by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15ff.

Who was he? "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make straight the way of the LORD,'" (Cf. Isaiah 40:3).

John was the messenger of God sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). He called upon all to repent of their sins and turn to the LORD God for forgiveness and life in the Messiah who was about to appear.

Who are we in this world? What are we and all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be in this world? We are not the Christ, but we are a voice "crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'"

Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Soon He will appear in the clouds with all His holy angels (cf. Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29ff.)! Until then, we are to be God's voice, His witnesses, calling on all people to repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 1:8). In Jesus' shed blood, there is forgiveness and life everlasting for all who repent and turn to Him for salvation!

Dear LORD Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit and embolden us to be Your voice in this world, calling on all to repent and trust in You for forgiveness and life everlasting! Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For The Record, Pages 4 on 09/09/2009