Collect for Purity – Page 17 – The Peanut Gallery

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 1:19-34 (NLT)

The Testimony of John the Baptist

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

Jesus, the Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
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Morning Reflection:

We need to be clear on who we are in God’s kingdom
so that we can effectively point others to Jesus for salvation.
Steven J. Cole

Some thoughts for consideration:

People were flocking to John the Baptizer from near and far and responding positively to his message of repentance and baptism. That’s why the religious authorities challenged him – “Who are you?”

John responded to their questioning by saying who he was not – the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet. And then clarified who he was – a messenger who was preparing people to believe and receive the Messiah – Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

And so the same question is addressed to me and you today – “Who are you?”

+ I am not God; I can’t forgive sins; and I can’t save anyone.
+ I am a believer in Jesus; I am a baptized repentant sinner; I am a reborn child of God; and I am at my very best when I point others to Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – in other words, when I help people connect with Jesus.

Question: Who are you? Where do you fit into this story? Are you a skeptic, a penitent, a believer, or a messenger? Or, something else? How is God speaking to you today?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You have sent your Son, Jesus Christ, into the world in order to save the world. Help me to find my place in your plan of Salvation. Take me as I am, and make me what you want me to be. Use me, however you will, to connect others with Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away my sins, and the sin of the entire world. In his name, and for your glory, I ask it. Amen.
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“Behold the Lamb” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 1:1-8 (NLT)

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word

In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
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Morning Reflection:

John’s Prologue is a perfect introduction to our 2019 reading through the New Testament. Why? Because it expands our understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to believe him and accept him. Here are some thoughts to ponder –

Creation – Jesus, the Word of God, has origins that go back to the beginning of time itself. He was not only with God in the beginning, but was God. And, apart from him, “not one thing came into being” (vs 3).

Revelation – Jesus, the Word of God, is the source of revelation and grace for all people everywhere: he is “the true light which enlightens everyone” (vs 9). Reflecting God’s glory, he is “full of grace and truth” (vs 14, 18).

Rejection – Jesus, the Word of God, was tragically rejected by his own world and the people he created. “The world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him” (vs 11).

Incarnation – Jesus, the Word of God, became a human being and lived among and within humanity: “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (vs 14). The barrier between the divine and human realms were breached to a degree never before realized.

Blessing – Jesus, the Word of God, is the conduit of God’s mercy and truth that now flow in measures never possible before: “from his fullness, we receive grace upon grace” (vs 16).

Question: Do I believe Jesus and accept him as the Gospel of John presents him – the eternal Word of God? How is God speaking to you today?

To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn — not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (vs 12-13)

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the wonder and mystery of Christmas – the child Jesus born in a manger is the Divine Word that spoke all of creation into being. Reveal to me your grace and truth, your unfailing love and faithfulness, throughout the coming year. And show me how to live as a reborn child of God, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, in whose name I pray. Amen.
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“Christ Be All Around Me” – All Sons & Daughters