“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.“ Luke 1:16-17 (ESV) John the Baptist was clearly on mission with God. He became known as the forerunner of Jesus. John preached a baptism of repentance to prepare the way for Jesus. John also had the distinct privilege of baptizing Jesus when Jesus began His ministry at age thirty (Luke 3:23). John the Baptist’s personal mission statement would have looked something like this: I exist to bring glory to God by pointing people to Jesus. What are you giving your life to? Are you living in such a way as to intentionally point people to Jesus? Hopelessness and despair litter the terrain of life on this broken planet. The vast majority of the billions of people who currently inhabit the earth are completely lost and eternally condemned. Our only hope is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Does your life declare the reality that Jesus is the only way? You bring glory to God as you point people to Jesus. God places you in the display window of life to be an irresistible influence for Christ. People are watching you and observing your conversation and your conduct. They are listening to your life to see if you really possess what you profess. Don’t conceal your identity in Christ. Reveal your new identity by allowing Jesus to live His life through you. Let others see Jesus in you. Live in a way that other people will desire to have the love relationship that you enjoy with Jesus. Point people to Jesus! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: John the Baptist
“Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16-17 (NIV) John the Baptist was clearly on mission with God. He became known as the forerunner of Jesus. John preached a baptism of repentance to prepare the way for Jesus. John also had the distinct privilege of baptizing Jesus when Jesus began His ministry at age thirty (Luke 3:23). John the Baptist’s personal mission statement would have looked something like this: I exist to bring glory to God by pointing people to Jesus. What are you giving your life to? Are you living in such a way as to intentionally point people to Jesus? Hopelessness and despair litter the terrain of life on this broken planet. The vast majority of the billions of people who currently inhabit the earth are completely lost and eternally condemned. Our only hope is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Does your life declare the reality that Jesus is the only way? You bring glory to God as you point people to Jesus. God places you in the display window of life to be an irresistible influence for Christ. People are watching you and observing your conversation and your conduct. They are listening to your life to see if you really possess what you profess. Don’t conceal your identity in Christ. Reveal your new identity by allowing Jesus to live His life through you. Let others see Jesus in you. Live in a way that other people will desire to have the love relationship that you enjoy with Jesus. Point people to Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
God uses people who are intentional. “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’ And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” Luke 3:15-18 (NIV) Knowing who you are “not” is just as important as knowing who you “are.” God has designed you with a specific personality type. He formed you to be His image bearer. God saved you to fulfill His assignment for your life. It’s not about your story that God plays a part in. It is all about God’s story that you get to play a part in. God invites you to join Him in His story. John the Baptist was clear about his identity. He understood that he was not the Christ. John understood and embraced his role as the one who would point others to Jesus. John the Baptist lived a focused life. He was intentional about preparing the way for others to encounter Jesus. John understood who he personally was “not” and who he personally “was.” There is tremendous freedom in fulfilling God’s purpose according to your unique design. Giving your life to something bigger than you and to something that will impact others for eternity is worth your focus. God uses people who are intentional. Are you intentionally on mission with God? Have you fully surrendered your life to God’s agenda? Are you willing to live a life of intentionality? Here’s a good start: Point others to Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell, Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care