If John the Baptist Were Alive Today (Matthew 3:1) - Your Daily Bible Verse - October 2

If John the Baptist Were Alive Today
By Jennifer Waddle

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” - Matthew 3:1 NKJV

If John the Baptist were alive today, his message to the masses would be the same message he preached in the wilderness so long ago. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Yet, I wonder how many of us would take him seriously. In a world that is deafened by the constant noise and chaos, how many would actually listen to a man in the wilderness who claimed to be preparing the way of the Lord?

John’s timeless message is like a banner waving over every heart on the planet. It continues to wave bold and strong, even in the darkest of days. We need only look up and see that God’s kingdom is at hand. Our present circumstances are not our final destination. This is not all there is!

The beautiful thing about John’s invitation, is that it doesn’t require a whole check-list of things to accomplish. There is no get-your-life-together-first requirement. There are no rules you have to follow before repentance. For repentance is where it begins.

The Bible assures us that when a person, or a nation, repents of sin, God is faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9). When people humble themselves and seek the Lord, He hears them. He heals them. And, He forgives them (2 Chronicles 7:14). What a simple, yet unheeded call: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

If John declared the kingdom of heaven was at hand, more than 2,000 years ago, how much nearer is God’s kingdom today? Every new day, we are one step closer to our heavenly home. Yet, we continue to live as though this is all there is. We continue to strive for the things of earth, which will one day pass away.

Today, let’s ask God to renew our hearts, minds, and souls, by surrendering everything to Him. Every hardship, trial, sin, and struggle, let us confess them and lay them at His feet. Will you join me?

Heavenly Father, We come before You, humbly seeking Your will and Your way. Forgive us, Lord, for doing as we please, in a world that is not our home. Help us to gain a heavenly perspective. Help us heed the timeless call of John the Baptist—“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Please, Lord, give us boldness and clarity to share this message with those around us, to break away from the noise and chaos and speak words of truth. Thank You, Father, for preparing the way through Your Son. There is no other way. Continue to work in our lives until the glorious day when Jesus returns. For it is by Him, for Him, and because of Him that we live, and move, and have our being. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Jennifer Waddle considers herself a Kansas girl, married to a Colorado hunk, with a heart to encourage women everywhere. She is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth

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