Daily Devotion for January 4

INTRO

As we make our New Year’s Resolutions, one must wonder if they are in harmony with our true identity. Sometimes our Resolutions fail because we have chosen a New Year’s Resolution that is out of character with our true being.

INRO TO SCRIPTURE

Gospel of John (sermon series until Lent, then Les Miserables)

SCRIPTURE: John 1: 19 - 23 (John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."

QUESTION: Why would the Pharisees think John the Baptist is the Messiah/Christ?

QUESTION: Has anyone ever thought you were someone that you were not?

How did you respond?

NOTE: it is probably a certainty that no one has ever considered us to be Christ. But throughout history, every so often there are some folks who have thought they were and some folks have followed after these who claim to be the Christ.

QUESTION: In the day of Jesus, how would they know if they were actually following the real CHRIST?

THOUGHT TO PONDER

Is it necessary for us to know who we are before we can answer who we are not?