Monday Reading: Matthew 11:13-15
Key Verse: Matthew 11:13
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
Devotion:
The doctrine of John the Baptist needed to be upheld more than any other prophet because his doctrine that he was teaching was not that the coming of the Messiah was still to come sometime in the future, but was now! His prophecy was that the Messiah was already among men and would show Himself soon. Since that time when John was prophesying, there have been no further prophets...
Why would God change things around so much? So that we would realise just how important Jesus Christ was – and yet so many people rejected Him then and still many more reject Him now. Most of that rejection is not because of not believing the truth but rather not knowing the truth and hence not being able to discern the truth. God’s Word may well be being taught in churches all over the world, but so few people are coming to hear God’s Word that the world is living in times of ignorance!
The Old Testament foretold of one last great prophet like Elijah who would come to tell the people of the coming of the Messiah. John was that last prophet and yet so many chose not to believe because they expected or wanted Elijah to come in person rather than one like Elijah. John himself said that he was not Elijah the Tishbite; yet he knew that he was there to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Messiah and so he did when the time was right.
We must not put aside the fact that Christ was the one speaking these words and reminding people directly that not everyone would believe; “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”. So many people simply choose not to believe so that they can continue on in their own ways rather than turning to God’s ways. We need to hear God’s Word, understand His Word and believe His Word – then we can be made complete...
Points to Ponder:
How often do you question others peoples word?
Are you listening to God’s Word?
