Lesson 33
Meet Jesus: Cousin John

Matthew 3: 1: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Family is important. Jesus' cousin John was a preacher of repentance. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" was his most famous phrase we have recorded. That says a lot about him. He was looking for immediacy in acting toward God. Meeting Jesus gets us into the immediate. Delay can be costly when a prize is sitting in front of us. John declared that the prize was ready for the taking. It is as close as our hand.

ACT!
Grab the prize. Think of one act in the last 24 hours that needs repentance. Repent. Work on changing your thoughts away from it and toward God and His kingdom at hand.

PRAY!
Father, give me the grace of John, Jesus' cousin. Help me to see actions that need immediate turn of direction and thought pattern. I give them to You for change.

copyright 2001, Philip A.Larson

Lesson of the Week