Get Right With God

January 3

(Luke 3:3 NIV) “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

(Matthew 4:12-17 NIV) “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. {13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- {14} to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: {15} "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- {16} the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." {17} From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

John wasn’t a prosperity preacher who taught that God just loves everybody and wants to bless them. He was not a purveyor of the “I’m OK, You’re OK” philosophy. He was an “in your face” kind of communicator -- an equal opportunity offender who coddled no one. He preached that our sins separate us from God. He preached that the way back to God was in repentance. This is the kind of repentance that requires turning away from sin and walking toward God with our hands up in surrender. It’s the kind of repentance that puts one on a completely new road. His message to everyone was the same: “Repent of sin and get right with God. Change your life and be baptized in water as a sign of your repentance.” It’s a message that Jesus echoed in His early preaching. And it’s a message that we should echo if we want to preach the whole truth. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day