Sunday, December 8, 2013

Carol Bonifant
Small Group Ministry Leader, Vestry Chaplain

Listen to this Devotional.

Matthew 3:1-12

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Devotional

We have a new puppy in our house Pumpkin Pie (Pie for short). His presence is irrefutable! There is no way you can walk by him without noticing, and be drawn to him. His love, joy and delight in greeting you is contagious. No matter what you are doing, how busy you are, how overburdened you may be, you cannot keep yourself from interacting with such love. A softness in your heart surfaces and a desire to return such joyful love overtakes you. The dust, grime, and dirt of the day vanish, replaced by unconditional puppy love.

Pie helps all in our house remember that when Jesus returns we will be filled with even greater joy. No barrier of any kind will keep us from running into His arms. Instantly we will recognize our baggage of sin will need to be discarded so Jesus can hold us perfectly.

Pie reminds us that in Advent the Kingdom of heaven has come near, and we don't want to miss anything Jesus will bring when He returns. It seems to us that on that Day when our Lord returns it will be a Christmas of all Christmases' with our hearts on fire for everything that matters to him.

Additional Readings

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13