Scripture Union Daily Guide 1 January 2021 Message
Topic: Turn Away from Sin
Opening Prayer: Open my eyes O Lord that I might behold wondrous things from your word in Jesus name.
Welcome to Year 2021
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; Colossian 1:10 – 11
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17
Question(s) for Reflection
• What does the passage teach about God the Father, God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Message: John challenges our priorities in ministry today. Notice his message (vs.2, 10-12), his simple lifestyle (v.4, – think of modern-day equivalent), his boldness (vs.7-10), and his humility (vs.11,13). “The more material blessings you have, the more successful your ministry”! Does the lifestyle and ministry of John support these modern-day teachings? John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus (Malachi 3:1) and the Voice in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3) came ahead of Jesus Christ to prepare the people for His arrival. The way he did it was to call people to turn away from sin and turn to God, (vs.2; 8).
Baptism was a form of initiation which was practised by groups such as the Essenes even before John the Baptist. John insisted that it should not be a mere outward act but rather a public declaration of God’s people turning away from their sin and turning back to Him. Jesus did not need to repent. Why then did He subject Himself to baptism (v.15)? He came to the world to take the place of sinners, doing this fully by taking our place on the cross.
Notice the manifestation of the Trinity and how God introduced Jesus (vs. 16-17). What does this tell you about Him? So what? Praise God for those who announced the saving grace of Jesus Christ to you. Read v.8 again. Make a list of how you will live differently this year and thereby confirm that you are a follower of Jesus?
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
FOR THIS NEW YEAR
1. For this New Year we humbly ask Your grace;
Help us to always see Your loving face
Shining upon us, bringing peace within,
Keeping our feet from paths of mortal sin.
2. Dear Lord, we ask that we would always be
Open to You, and that all men may see
In how we treat them that we’ve made a pact.
To let Your love shine through our ev’ry act.
3. Within our fam’lies may we know Your peace;
As we share moments let our love increase.
Teach us to share with those we truly love
As we would do so in that home above.
Closing Prayer
• Pray for grace to do them.
• Thank God for seeing 2021, pray for grace to keep following Jesus this year. Pray for the churches in Nigeria, for Christian Ministries and Church Leaders. Pray for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Isaiah 43:16-19
Bible Reading in One Year: Gen. 1-3; Rom.1
Scripture Union Daily Guide 1 January 2021 – Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world.