NIV 365 / My Name is John the Baptist

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 319 of 365 My Name Is John the Baptist John the Baptist was a bold preacher who confronted his generation with a plainspoken call to repentance. Jesus confirmed John as a prophet and "more than a prophet" (Matthew 11:9)-John was the predicted messenger who prepared the way for the Christ. Jesus made the amazing statement, in fact, that no one had ever been born who was greater than John (see vv. 9-11). Yet John had a bout with doubt. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the long-awaited King of Israel, the Lamb of God. John had even heard the voice of God proclaiming that Jesus was his Son (see 3:17). Why, then, was the Messiah's messenger sitting in the dungeon of a king who had blatantly broken God's laws and who served the hated Romans? John had doubts that were fueled by big questions. Doubt can divert us from the road to recovery. But doubt doesn't need to spell defeat. Doubt doesn't undo what God has already done in our life. But we need to do what John did with his qualms and questions: Take them to Jesus. He'll respond to us as he did to John. He'll send us messengers proclaiming his words and deeds (see 11:4). Our knowledge of what he has done in the past will confirm for us his healing, life-changing power (see v. 5). He'll commend us and our service to him (see vv. 7-15). As great as Jesus proclaimed John to be, our Lord attached a puzzling addendum to his statement in verse 11: "Whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than [John]." John, remarkable as he was, during his own lifetime never got to enjoy the promised benefits of the kingdom. John lived and died under the law, the old Mosaic covenant. But we, as new covenant believers, enjoy many kingdom blessings John never experienced. One of the greatest of these is our unlimited, continuous access to God. With Jesus as our high priest, we can "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). We need to reserve some time alone with God every day (Principle Seven). When we have a bout with doubt, we can realize that we're going through a time of need. Unlike John, we don't have to send messengers to Jesus. We can take our doubts, questions, sins, needs and desires directly to him. When we do, we need to be ready for his messengers: our sponsor, accountability partner, pastor, friend or counselor. Thousands have already experienced God's life-changing power through Celebrate Recovery. Seek them out and listen to their stories. Even John needed testimonies from others to encourage him in his faith. That's why almost half of the Large Group meetings in Celebrate Recovery focus on a recovery testimony. Jesus wants you to succeed and desires to applaud you for your service, just as he did John. Taken from NIV Celebrate Recovery Bible Matthew 11:1-10 Matthew 11:1-10 KJV 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.