Lesson 2 -- second quarter 1999
March 14, 1999
© Copyright 1999, Christian Light Publications
John the Baptist identified himself as a voice, specifically, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness." John cried for repentance. John cried out the news of the coming One. John cried forth that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand. John was a voice, John had a voice, John used his voice to prepare the way for Jesus.
Have you found your voice?
Then came the day when Jesus appeared on the scene of John's ministry. John saw Him...and used his voice: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
John was not so caught up with his ministry and his message that he missed seeing Jesus. John was not so consumed with himself and his surroundings that he missed seeing Jesus. John was not so aware of the people that he missed seeing the Person. I wish this were true of me.
I can get so involved with these youth pages...that I can actually miss seeing Jesus. I can become so involved with the direction of the mission board...that I miss seeing Jesus. I can get so bogged down with my failings (and successes)...that I miss seeing Jesus. I can become so consumed in my pursuit of solutions to interpersonal problems...that I miss seeing Jesus.
My friend, how can I point out the Lamb of God to others if I have missed seeing Him myself? Life is not about youth pages, mission boards, failings (and successes) and interpersonal relationships. Life is about Jesus! Because Jesus is life. And Jesus is the One who takes away the sin of the world.
Have you seen Him?
Have you found your voice?
Would men know you've been with Jesus? They need to know by your voice. They also need to know by your life. Let your life develop into one that points to Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God!" May those around you see in daily walk and action that you have His life divine. When they are near you may they feel His presence near.
We will never be the voice crying in the wilderness. I believe, though, that God calls each one of us to be a voice calling in the moral wilderness in which we live. And wilderness it is, hastening steadily toward absolute depravity not seen since Noah's time.
Noah found refuge in his ark. Your refuge is in the Lamb of God. But you will not reach that refuge if you do not see Him! Nor will you help others to safety if, having seen Him, you do not find your voice.
Have you seen Him today? Did you even look for Him?
Imagine John, preaching and answering questions...but scanning the crowd, looking for the One his spirit would identify as the focus of his message. And then..."Behold the Lamb of God!"
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