Mark 1:4, 7-8 (NIV)
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
“But John’s message of repentance was essentially forward-looking. God’s doing a new thing, so we have to get ready!… When God arrives; when the king knocks on the door; when you’re about to be plunged in the holy spirit – what is there in your life that most embarrasses you? What are you ashamed of? What bits of the room have been quietly crying out to be tidied these many years, and you’ve been ignoring them?… It’s time to get ready.” [N.T. Wright. Lent for Everyone, Mark, Year B]
Prayer: Father, we hear you tell us it’s time to get ready! Help us to respond in repentance – cleaning things up, throwing things out, rearranging our lives to be ready to embrace the new thing you are doing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s worship to “Heaven Invade” by Kari Jobe (click here).
-KW
