Matthew 3 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Matthew 3:1,2

In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near.”

Repentance doesn’t bring the Kingdom of Heaven nearer to us but rather brings us nearer to the Kingdom. Christ already came and brought with Him this Kingdom; He brought it right to our doorstep, but we have to walk out the door to receive it.

I believe true repentance is born out of humility. Proud Stephen never truly repented. He may have been sorry he got caught or that he had to pay for it, but he was never truly sorry for what he had done. Yet this New Stephen that God is creating day by day feels differently about his sin. It’s more about Who he is sinning against than what the consequences are.

My friends, this isn’t natural to our flesh, but it is to the Spirit. Whichever one we feed will grow, and we will either be slaves to sin or to righteousness. I desire to know and be known by God more and more, and the Bible is clear that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. By humbly repenting, that is exactly what we are doing. For God already stepped down out of Heaven to save us, so how much further do we expect Him to go before we take a step? Repentance is not a death sentence but a new lease on life; true life lived in Him!

Romans 6:19-21- I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!

God bless! I love you all, but His love brought the Kingdom near! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Matthew 3:4-6

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

By our standards, John was not beautiful, but the message that he preached was! He wasn’t flashy or catchy. He didn’t have a huge church or the best equipment. He wasn’t the next big thing, but what he did have far outweighed all of that. He had a beautiful truth about the coming Christ that was filled with hope and love. But this message was not necessarily “friendly” by today's standards. It was tough and to the point. It did not make excuses for sin but called people to humbly repent and turn to the Lord.

Although it wasn’t “friendly” by today's standards, the people still came out in droves to hear him and be baptized by him. Why? Because the truth he spoke and the God he served drew them. The truth of God’s Word, no matter how hard it is, always offers hope for those who will listen, obey, and turn. John’s message wasn’t “you're a bunch of sinners, and you're stuck in it,” but it was “we are a bunch of sinners, but there is hope, freedom, and forgiveness found in the One who is coming next!” Do you see the contrast there? He didn’t deny the issue of being a sinner or make excuses for sin but rather offered hope and a future from the bondage it brings.

I believe that before Christ sets us free, from somewhere deep down inside us (whether consciously or subconsciously), we know that we are broken, lost, and that something just isn’t right. Thus, many are searching but never find what they are looking for because they never look to the Lord. Denying our sinful nature and the need to be freed from it is, in essence, denying the need for Christ. He didn’t come to set Himself free but to set those who were captive to sin free! Thank You, Jesus, for saving a wretch like me!

John 8:32- “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36- “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Matthew 3:1,2- In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

God bless! I love you all, but His love sets us free! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Matthew 3:4-6

John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

I love how physically unappealing John the Baptist would have been, and yet people came out in droves to see him and listen to him preach. His message was not one of health and wealth but of truth and the call to repentance. Yet they came! This is the power of the truth of our God and His Word.

We see the Spirit moving the message of truth through John! For John's message was not one of human origin but was divinely given to Him by God for God's purpose of preparing the way for Christ. We see that God drew people with the truth, not with fancy or elaborate services but the truth. He basically preached that we are sinners, we need to repent, and we can be saved! It may not have tickled the ears, but it certainly fed the soul. This message so stirred their hearts that they were coming out and confessing their sins unashamedly to someone who was more than likely a stranger. Imagine that! We have a hard time sharing our struggles with those closest to us, but these people laid it all out to a stranger.

The moving of the Spirit is undeniable and ever available to us! And the power of the gospel is real; it makes those things that once seemed important not so important. It takes the hardest man and turns him into soft and moldable clay for the Lord's pleasure. It is the lifeblood in the Body of Christ! John didn't go searching for people to preach to but trusted in God and preached the truth. He made himself fully available, first to God and then to the people. Will we do the same today?

1 Corinthians 2:4,5- And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Matthew 3:1,2- In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

God bless! I love you all, but His love moves men's hearts and changes their entire lives! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!