Read Mark 1:2-8
What Are You Waiting For?
Mark begins by quoting two prophecies. One from Isaiah and one from Malachi. They both talk about the forerunner, the man God has called to prepare the coming of Jesus. His name is John the Baptist. John is the messenger who will prepare the way of Jesus. He will be the voice of one calling in the wilderness, saying, make straight and ready the way of the Lord.
John is a preacher who doesn’t look or dress like any of the religious leaders. He’s dressed like a mountain man. He’s clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt. His diet consists of locust and honey.
John preaches repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He gave a call for Holiness and then baptized people in water as a symbol of being washed clean. But he also preached that ONE is coming after him who is mightier than himself. So mighty that John said, “I am not fit to stoop down and untie his sandals.” John says, “I baptize you with water but this ONE who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
So what kind of impact did John, the mountain man or wilderness man, have on the people in that region? There’s nothing spectacular about his appearance that one would be drawn to him and yet he attracted all the people of Judea and Jerusalem out to him and they were getting baptized and confessing their sins. God was moving!!
As followers of Christ we all get to be a forerunner for Jesus. The good news is, God wants to use you! It doesn’t matter how popular you are or the color of your skin. He’s looking for a willing heart surrendered to him. God will use you to take Jesus to a lost and hurting world. People will be drawn to you. Remember, you don’t go alone. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, will be with you. He’ll go before you and guide you and strengthen you and use you to impact lives.
What are you waiting for? Let today be the day you say, ” Jesus, I repent of my sins. I give you my whole life. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Make me a new person. Use me to reach lost souls.
Let’s do this together and see what lives are not impacted daily because of the Lord working through us.
