Page 4 - Living Light 89

Monday May 26 - The end in the beginning
“I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:8
Mark, having announced that the good news was Jesus, parts the curtain to reveal Jesus’ ministry – nothing less than baptism in the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist testified to One, far greater than himself, who would not baptise with water but with the Holy Spirit. This does not invalidate baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins, but infers that it is the forerunner to another gift which only the Son of God can give.
Before his ascension, Jesus reminded his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).
Repentance and faith in the finished work of Calvary provides both forgiveness and justification. But we must not stop there – there’s more! We need the power that comes from the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit – the gift the Father promised.
On the day of Pentecost, multitudes were convicted by Peter’s preaching. When pressed about the way forward, Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
Father, I bow before you and ask for your promised gift; “Come, Holy Spirit.” Amen.
Tuesday May 27 - The wilderness
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness... He was with the wild
animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12-13
Jesus, the Son of God, had ‘fulfilled all righteousness’ (Matthew 3:15) by being baptised; he had received the Holy Spirit and the Father’s commendation, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Surely now was the time to launch out in ministry – but no, instead the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Why? What value was there to be found in the wilderness?
God is the God of the wilderness as much as he is of the mountain top! For Jesus, just like the Israelites centuries earlier, the wilderness was a place of testing and preparation. Deuteronomy 8:2 explains, ‘Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.’ Jesus is our example; in the wilderness he proved his obedience to the Father’s will. It was there that he demonstrated how mankind could depend on God’s constant protection and providence. The wilderness was a place of confrontation, where Jesus gained victory over Satan and resisted temptation.
Such testing times also serve to humble us, allowing us to empathise with others (Hebrews 4:15). So take heart, dear friend; life may seem barren, but be assured that God has not deserted you.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Father, I realise that times of testing are necessary for my spiritual growth. May I not be filled with fear, but look to you for strength and comfort. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY