DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 6 November 2024: Model of Emulation
Text: John 1:15-34 (KJV)
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed*, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
KEY VERSE: John 1:15
“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
Models are necessary to give guidance and direction to people in life. Therefore, it is common for young people to look up to other people, especially the successful in human endeavours, and pattern their lives after them. Sadly, not every ‘model’ can be followed as they are self-projecting in their approach to life rather than exuding positive influence. Their impact becomes negative with the capacity to mar the destiny of people who emulate their lifestyles.
John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, fulfilled the Scriptures concerning him by bearing witness of Christ, the expected Messiah. His testimony was so convincing that the people, including the religious leaders of his day, enquired about him and his personality. In his response, John revealed his true identity, mission and ministry as prophesied by Isaiah.
John the Baptist spoke about the fullness of grace of God in Christ. He showed Him as the Source of truth, the eternal Son of God, and the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost. More interestingly, he revealed Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. With all humility, he submitted to the superiority and lordship of Christ over him. What a model of emulation for contemporary believers and ministers of the gospel!
Men, by nature, will project themselves without putting God first. “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). Therefore, we must seek to project Christ above ourselves and proclaim Him everywhere we go. Whilst John the Baptist was a man of gracious character, Christ is the most outstanding and faultless Model. We should pattern our lives after Him and keep looking unto Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Knowing Christ simply means modelling your life after Him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 11-12
Daily Manna 6 November 2024
