Writing with faith, hope, and love
Express your letters to the Editor

Editors note: These devotionals are taken from the PS archives and are based on the time I spent with the Lord in His Word. I wanted to share them with you this new school year from the Gospel of Mark! Revisions have been made!

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.It is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' (Mark 1:1-3, NIV)

Observations:

I decided to look for all CHARACTERS mentioned in these 3 verses:

Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Isaiah, the prophet
I
Messenger
Lord

Observations/Interpretations:

I asked myself what are the CLAIMS being made about Jesus Christ?

The beginning of the gospel which is about Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is referred to as Lord.

I found it very interesting that the Gospel of Marks starts out with ‘The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God’ and moves right into prophesy.

I was reminded of what expert witnesses who are called into court to testify have to do. They give their credentials of why the jury, who are ordinary citizens, should believe what they have to say. After their credentials are given, they testify to what they were called in for.

In the same way, before Mark writes ‘the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God’, he reminds the people about the Old Testament, especially regarding the prophesy given to Isaiah to set up the credentials for the Gospel of Mark for ordinary citizens.

Now the credentials that have been given in Isaiah become a reality in the New Testament.

Observations:

Isaiah, the prophet mentions God’s conversation with Jesus Christ as a prophesy message which Mark reveals. This is evidenced by:

"I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (Mark 1:2-3)

Observations/Interpretations:

I decided to take a closer look at the above verses:

1. “I will send” refers to God speaking to Jesus Christ.

2. “my messenger” refers to God’s messenger.

3. “ahead of you” refers to Jesus Christ

4. “who will prepare” refers to messenger

5. “your way” refers to Jesus Christ

6. “a voice of one calling in the desert” refers to messenger

7. “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” refers to Jesus Christ

Point 1: “I will send” refers to God speaking to Jesus Christ.

I was very excited to know this because it tells me that Jesus Christ existed during the Old Testament. What we know is that God was speaking to Jesus Christ giving that prophesy to Isaiah.

Point 2: “my messenger” refers to God’s messenger.

Jesus is told that a messenger will come but no name is given.

Point 3: “ahead of you” refers to Jesus Christ.

Jesus is told that this messenger will precede His coming which tells me that Jesus would not come until the messenger foretold by God came first.

Point 4: “who will prepare” refers to messenger.

Jesus is told that this messenger will prepare.

Point 5: “your way” refers to Jesus Christ.

Jesus is told His way will be prepared.

Point 6: “a voice of one calling in the desert” refers to messenger.

Jesus is told this messenger will be a voice of one calling in the desert.

Point 7: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” refers to Jesus.

Jesus is told the message would be “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

This is so interesting because God is telling Jesus that He will be Lord. The name of the messenger is revealed too!

"And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(Mark 1:4, NIV)

The messenger to precede Jesus would be John. He was “a voice of one calling in the desert” which is evidenced by “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region”

(To be continued)

Implications:

I saw implications for my own life by looking at these verses. The most important thing that stuck out to me was prophesy. It made me see how prophesy can validate the beginning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It also made me see how important the Old Testament is even for Christians if we want to get to know Jesus of the Bible. God spoke to Jesus in the Old Testament through a prophecy revealed to Isaiah.

I ask you now dear friend, how seriously do you testify to prophecy?

Dear friend, there are so many people who make predictions but predictions do not always come true. Prophecy in the Bible has always come true and will continue to come true. If you take prophecy seriously, let God’s Word speak to you not only through the New Testament but also through the Old Testament realizing the New Testament makes so much more sense and becomes exciting to read when we realize most of the events that took place in the New Testament were prophesized in the Old Testament.

Prophecy still matters today and the Book of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelations have prophesies that have come true in the past and that will come true in the future. The key is that none of them have been proved to be false.

Predictions can be true or false but when God gives prophesy it will always come true. If you are involved in the occult, I want you to know that the occult does not have the answers to your life. Jesus Christ however does and He loves you so much. The Gospel means Good News and Jesus Christ loves you.

Psychics, tarot cards, crystal balls etc maybe fascinating to you but they do not have the answers to life. Many times people hear someone predict something about themselves and it plays in their head. Without realizing they themselves many times make that happen and think wow, he/she told me that it would happen and it did. Now they get more sucked into the occult.

Jesus knows the plans for you friend and they are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Yes, He does! We need not know what the future holds for us if we take the present as a gift and allow Him to guide us daily. The future is not a mystery with the Lord. Claim the promises God has for you that you can claim for your future.

Jesus testifies to His love for you based on being born on Christmas Day so one day He could rescue you and deliver you, not just you but all humanity who takes refuge in Him!

Won’t you do that during this new school year?

Won’t you testify to the love of Jesus in your life for He desires to give you a new identity!

You can live your life over. Though the years have gone by, if you feel your life looks like its going nowhere, you can still have a new identity and a new start.

Maybe you have messed up badly and feel like your life will never change, maybe you have been hurt so badly and feel like it cannot get any worse, maybe you have been stepped on all your life and feel like you cannot get up anymore. Though your future seems futile, I want you to know there is hope. Not the kind of hope that's wishful thinking but a real inspiring hope.

How many wonderful opportunities you have missed, it's not too late for you to change your life around. If you are discouraged and think, there is no way I can have my life changed around, I want you to know that with Christ all things are possible. Jesus loves you so much more than anyone can love you. We have limits on love based on what others do for us but Christ's love for you is unconditional. For unto us a child was born and that child was baby Jesus who later died for our sins and came back to life to save us. If we do so much for those we love and our love is limited, think about how much Jesus will do for you whose love is unlimited.

Whether or not you have a job, a boy or girl friend, family, fame, fun, or fortune, etc that's not what Christ sees in you. He sees you as being so precious and wants to take care of you. No matter where you have been or what you have done, you can come to the Savior. Your age does not matter as the Lord can make an impact in your life. He reaches out to you with Helping Hands.

You have a golden opportunity to start the this school year with the Lord on your side. Let me assure you, the transformation you will see in your own life. When Christ touches the hearts of those who come to Him, there life will never be the same again. You will have a totally new perspective on life as you spend daily time with Him praying and reading the Bible. Even as you face the storms of life, the winds cannot shake you for you will have a firm foundation on the Rock, Jesus Christ.

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.

Today Everlasting Savior Truly Identities Faithfully You! (T.E.S.T.I.F.Y)/”How seriously do you testify to prophecy?”

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me unconditionally for who I am. Thank you Jesus! I accept you Jesus into my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus for the coming days we can do things together. Thanks for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh