John the Baptist

love reading the Bible, I am so sure that most of you know that.  I read through the Bible each year, usually using a different translation so I don’t get bored. You see, reading the same translation year after year seems like I stop comprehending because I know it from former readings.  So, this year I am reading the New Living Translation.  Easy reading and easy to understand.  This works for me because February of 2025, I had a TIA.  Although I continued on with life more or less as usual, I realized that I had some brain issues…focusing, comprehension to an extent, exhaustion, difficulty in reading…most people around me never even noticed.  Even my doctor said I was sharp, for my age, but I know differently.  Thus, I am just starting to write again.

This morning I read Luke 2-3.  Since this is my 39^th time of reading through the Bible, you know that I’ve read this many times before but today…John the Baptist’s words made me want to write—to share the importance of what I read.

“You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” (Luke 3:7b-8a)

“Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9b)

Chapter 3 of Luke tells us the importance of John the Baptist.  As he was baptizing the people, he assures the people that he is not the Messiah.  He lays the requirements (not sure that’s the right word) out “people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.” (Luke 3:3b)

What must we do to have eternal life?  Show that you have repented by being baptized.  Repent and turn to God.  Proof of repentance is a change in your heart shown by the way you live.  We must produce good fruit!  That can only come about by doing God’s will.

And how do we know what God wants us to do? By reading the whole Word of God daily, year in and year out.  Hiding His Word in your heart and mind.  Bible Studies are good and you grow from that study.  Your pastor’s sermons are good and you are challenged.  But, I’m telling you, reading the Bible daily will change you in ways that you never thought possible!

Do you know the best part about what John the Baptist is teaching here?  We find this idea of turning from sin and turning to God, Who is so willing to forgive us, and this will be evident by how we act!  Of course, James points out “faith is dead without good works.” (James 2:26b) 

Many of us know the Ephesians 2:8-10 passage, “God saved you by His grace when you believed.  And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  Isn’t that powerful?  When we repent, turn away from our old ways and to God, Jesus is there to walk us through a whole new life.  A life, led by the Holy Spirit, to want to submit to what we are being called to do. 

As we read the Bible, that same Holy Spirit guides each of us towards the direction that He can use us.  The direction that He’s leading me may not be the direction that He’s leading you.  But it will never go against God’s precious Word. 

So, if you say you belong to Jesus and that He lives in your heart, you are a new person in Christ Jesus, that old life of drinking, drugs, smoking, swearing, addictions, and so on, is in the past and you are called to a new life in Christ.  I can guarantee you, it’s not easy, we have to work, letting go of our former self.  We have to seek the Lord day in and day out, for He speaks to us through His Word. 

My desire for this coming year, 2027, is to challenge as many people as I can to read through the Bible in 2027.  Will you take the challenge?  I want you to know that I am here to cheer you on.  When you can hardly read another page of genealogy, or you feel like you are reading the same history over and over, please remember that I and many others have been there.  You can contact me by email at manager@afaeoriginal.com or for those who have my phone number, please call.  I can not begin to tell you how much I want each of you to experience the love of reading the Bible like I experience. 

The change in my heart and life over all these years.  To experience the Love of the Father and His grace as I have gone to Him in repentance.  Yes, I want that for each of you.