Today's Scripture
John the baptist: Matthew 11:7-19
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Matthew 11(CEB)
7 When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? 8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who wear refined clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you.[b]
11 “I assure you that no one who has ever been born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is violently attacked as violent people seize it. 13 All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14 If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 Let the person who has ears, hear.
16 “To what will I compare this generation? It is like a child sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others, 17 ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn’t mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 Yet the Human One[c] came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by her works.”
I’ve been out of commission for the past couple of days. Sorry for missing the devotions.
What does this passage mean to me/us
Jesus shares his thoughts about John the Baptist.
He gives John the Baptist the highest praise, describing him as the best prophet ever.
Eugene Peterson, in the Message, says, “No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah” (v. 11-14, The Message).
At the same time, Jesus is lamenting the fact that people’s heart did not change with the powerful encounter they should have had through being Baptized by John. No matter what kind of experience we have, God’s ultimate goal is for us to have a changed heart.
It sounds easy, but there is one thing that God does not force us to change, and it is our heart.
Instead, God continues to pour down God’s ray of love to melt the barriers of our hearts, so we open them up to the Lord for a change. And when we open ourselves to the healing hand of the Spirit, we will see how the change of our heart can change the world.
Are you opened to God’s life-changing love?
Prayer
Lord, your love is steadfast, waiting for us to change our hearts for your glory. Continue to shine your light of love in our lives, so we can change our hearts for your mission. In Christ name, we pray, AMEN.
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