The One Year Bible New Testament for New Beginnings by DaySpring NLT, Filament Enabled - Book - Page 24
4
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
4
John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.
For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the
Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them
in the Jordan River.
E NCOU R AG E M E N T
Our new beginning may be our own choice—or not. It may be a joyous thing, or it
might have been triggered by trial or tragedy and accompanied by fear, pain, anguish, or sorrow. No matter how it comes, change is hard, even good change. We may
have to clear the road and make space for God to live in our hearts and work in our
lives. It may feel like a kind of baptism where we move from death to life, from the
end of one season to the beginning of another. It’s not easy, but we can do it because
God is with us and will help us.
day 3 | MATTHEW 3:7–4:11
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But when he [John the Baptist] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he
denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
8
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say
to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you,
God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is
poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be
chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11
“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon
who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12He is ready to separate the chaff from
the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat
into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
13
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to talk
him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15
But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to
baptize him.
16
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my
dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
