God's Got You!

Scripture: Matthew 3:1 & 2

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

John the Baptist was called to a great task of preaching to an obstinate people in high positions, that did not want to hear what he had to say. However, John the Baptist did not back down from what he was purposed to do. He lived in the wilderness, and ate wild locust and honey. He wore sackcloth and ashes, and he preached at the top of his lungs for the people to repent.

He didn't care what other people thought about his message, because He was filled with Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. He had the power of God living on the inside of him, and no matter how lonely the road became, He stayed the course til death. John the Baptist was not the norm. He did not sway from what God had purposed for him to do. He was bold, and fearless about his assignment; and no one could shut his mouth.

John the Baptist is an awesome example of being bold for the kingdom of God, regardless of what other people think about us. Even when we have to walk alone many times in the midst of opposition, or we feel like hermits in a foreign land; we must be encouraged to stay the course. Even when people talk about us, look at us funny, or just simply don't understand us whatsoever; we must stay the course. Even when people slander our name, and say all manner of things against us, we must remember to stay the course!

Reflection:
Whatever God has assigned for us to do in this life, only we can do it. No one else can fill our assignment. We are not carbon copies of eachother. A copy can only reflect the appearance of a thing, not fulfill the original purpose. God would not bring us into a place of purpose to leave us alone. He will strengthen us, and build us into who He purposed us to be. What we must remember, and keep in the forefronts of our minds, is that God equips those He calls. He equips up with His Spirit, His Love, and with His power; to do what He was placed within our heart to do. Even when we feel overwhelmed by the call on our lives, we must remember that God's got us! He will not allow anything to pluck us out of His hand. So be encouraged to stay the course, and don't back down.

Prayer:
Dear Lord God, I thank you so much that what you have put within my spirit is for your glory, honor and praise. I thank you for boldness to teach your word. I thank you for clarity of speech when you open my mouth in wisdom. I thank you for messages that will edify, build up, and encourage the body of Christ. I also thank you for the words that you give me to speak to those that have not received you into their heart as their personal Lord and Savior. I praise and give you glory, for you alone are worthy. Thank you for the call that you've placed on my life; that allows me to totally depend on you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:

John: 2491
John = "Jehovah is a gracious giver"
1) John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ. By order of Herod Antipas he was cast into prison and afterwards beheaded.
2) John the apostle, the writer of the Fourth Gospel, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James the elder. He is that disciple who (without mention by name) is spoken of in the Fourth Gospel as especially dear to Jesus and according to the traditional opinion is the author of the book of Revelation.
3) John surnamed Mark, the companion of Barnabas and Paul. #Acts 12:12
4) John a certain man, a member of the Sanhedrin. # Ac 4:6

The Baptist: 910
1) a baptiser
2) one who administers the rite of baptism
3) the surname of John, the forerunner of Christ

Came: 3854
1) to be present, to come near, approach

2) to come forth, make one's public appearance

Preaching: 2784
1) to be a herald, to officiate as a herald

a) to proclaim after the manner of a herald
b) always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
2) to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done
3) used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers

In the wilderness: 2048
1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited
a) used of places
1) a desert, wilderness
2) deserted places, lonely regions
3) an uncultivated region fit for pasturage
b) used of persons
1) deserted by others
2) deprived of the aid and protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred
3) bereft
a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd
b) of a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself
Repent: 3340
1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

For the kingdom: 932
1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule
a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom
b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah
c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom
2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king
3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah

of heaven: 3772
1) the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it

a) the universe, the world
b) the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced
c) the sidereal or starry heavens
2) the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings

Is at hand: 1448
1) to bring near, to join one thing to another
2) to draw or come near to, to approach

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of Matthew 3 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 3 Jan 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=3&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2009). God's Got You! Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com