Now that Jesus
has been fully introduced, the focus of the story is temporarily shifted to
another man: John the Baptist. John’s role was to prepare people to receive the
coming Saviour (v 4-6). God used John to open people’s eyes to the weight and
severity of sin (v 9, 17) as well as the importance of repentance (v 8). But
there was a problem: people are not capable of living sinless lives on their
own. We are fallen and broken. Those who were truly sorrowful over their sin
recognized that they needed help to overcome their sin and brokenness. Their
hearts were ready to receive the Messiah. They were ready for another person to
enter the story, Jesus of Nazareth (v 16, 21).
Journaling and Prayer
1. Repentance
is a key first step in following Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your
heart for any sin (actions, attitudes, etc.). Confess these to God (1 John
1:9). If this sin is a recurring problem in your life or if you can’t seem to
feel release from private confession to God commit to confessing it to a
mature, godly person. Mature believers can help guide us and help us learn to
walk out repentance.
2. A key
verse in this passage is “Then what shall we do?” (v 10 NASB). Repentance
requires not only acknowledgement of and sorrow for our sin; it requires a
change of lifestyle. Ask God for a practical step in repenting from the sin you
just confessed.
3. Pray
that the Church in Canada would be broken over her sin. Pray that she would
realize how much she’s offended God and that she would come to genuine
repentance.
