Jan 6thDevotion              John 1:6-8       A Born Witness

John 1:6-8 – There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The man being spoken of is John the Baptist.  John was a man whom God brought forth at the exact right time.  God foreknew this man whom He had created with unique gifts for a special purpose to fulfill the plan of God for our salvation.  God brought him into being and sent him out to do His will.  Sure we know who his parents were (Zechariah and Elisabeth – Luke 1:5-25) but God is his Creator and is the giver of life. (Job 33:4)  Having created John and knowing how John would react to everything in his life, God created John the Baptist for this exact time.  The Lord God created Him, and even while John was in his mother’s womb God called Him to his mission in life, and while in Elisabeth’s womb the Lord filled him with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:15)  John was an answer to the prayers of his parents. (Luke 1:13) We notice that the Lord did not immediately answer the prayers of Zechariah and Elisabeth, but that He answered them in His timing, in the exact time.

John was the last Old Testament prophet who was brought forth four hundred years after the life of the prophet Malachi (who wrote the last book of the Old Testament ).  Malachi had prophesied that John would be a prophet like Elijah. (Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:17) So we see that God had told of a prophet like Elijah coming and four hundred years later John was born to fulfill that promise and in answer to the prayers of his parents.  The answer to our prayers always come in His perfect timing.

John was born to be a witness of the coming Messiah. God had foretold in Malachi that John would have a ministry of leading the people to repentance and thereby prepare the way for the coming Messiah.  Family, there are no coincidences in the Bible. God speaks and His words always come true.  John’s mission was to prepare the way of the people to receive the coming Messiah.  John told the people about the coming of Jesus before His public ministry and pointed Him out once He had appeared.

All of John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus.  He accepted no glory but pointed the way to the coming Messiah.  The Lord God brought people to John and they could discern that John was a man from God and asked him if he was the Messiah that they were waiting for.  John always said that He was not the Messiah and revealed to them that the Messiah would come and would be infinitely greater and beyond who John was. John would tell the people that He was not the Light of the world, He was only the one who would tell of and point to the Light.  Jesus was and is the Light of the world. (John 8:12)

Just as John was known by God before his creation, so are we.  Just as John was born with a plan for his life, so were we.  The general mission for all who love and serve the Lord is to be His witness.  (Matthew 28:19-20)  The command to us all is to tell the world about Jesus and then to teach them to obey Him.  As John was born not to be praised and followed by man but to point people to Jesus, so are we.  When people attempt to praise us as someone great because of the Word of God that we share, we like John, must make it clear that we are nothing but witness who points to Jesus.  Family, we must never read our own press.  It is only how God judges us that matters.  We seek His approval and praise and none other. (Galatians 1:10)  After we have done what we were called to do, we know that we deserve no praise.  (Psalm 115:1)  Having been obedient to the call of God we must know that we have only done what our Master has called us to do.  We are satisfied to be called servants of God. (Luke 17:7-10)  Assessment of us belongs to God, not others, and not even ourselves. (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) We share what we have been given.  As servants of Jesus we share the Lord who lives within us.  It is our great honor.  To witness about He whom loves us and of about whom we love, is not burdensome, that is delight.  We, like John tell others what God has called us to tell.  That is our honor.  That is our delight. Praise God!

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.