Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Forerunners Mission: Reconciliation

Scripture: Luke 1:15-17
"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Insights: The third point in my sermon this past Sunday was joy is extended to the righteous and the verses focusing on this thought were verses eleven through fourteen.  The gist of the point was that God desires to give us His joy and in a very real sense John the Baptist served as that kind of joyful gift from the Lord.  The point I wish to focus on today, however, was the fourth point which is found in today’s verses.  The world is at enmity with God and its fellow human beings.  The whole reason Jesus came to this earth was to make it possible for humanity and the Lord to be restored relationally.  John the Baptist had the same mission of reconciliation that the Lord God has called us.  Because of the work of Jesus, we are all called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to a world in desperate need for a Savior.  When humanity is properly reconciled to the Lord, it is amazing what kind of healing work the Lord can do in the family.  Because Satan knows how import fathers are to the health and future of a family, he targets them.  He does everything he can to trip them up and make them fall in their walk with the Lord.  John the Baptist was sent to help strengthen fathers and bring healing to their family relationships.  It is amazing how if we get reconciled to the Father, that then there is a possibility for the family to be reconciled and from this reconciliation the obedient actions follow naturally.  If the first one is messed up, however, then the second one is easily destroyed.  When that takes place, then disobedience is the natural end product.  Beloved, let us turn our face toward the Lord and be reconciled to Him.  Let us then watch Him miraculously work in our families and begin living lives of obedience to Him and His great name.

Questions:
  1. Are you in need of being reconciled with the Lord God?
  2. Are there any people with whom you need to be reconciled?

Prayer: Father, You have called us to a ministry of reconciliation because of the desperate need humanity has for restoration and fulfillment.  May I, like John the Baptist, help people come to a saving relationship with You and help restore families.  Amen.

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