WR21 Fast - Day 2
April 29, 2024 • Perry Chickonoski • John 1:35, Psalm 139:15–16, John 1:6–10
DAY 2 - Today’s devotional was written by Perry, Co-Leader of RLM, and today's reading is John 1:6-10, John saw the light and testified to the truth; he gave his yes.
A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. [John 1:6-10 NASB20]
In the Gospels, the Apostle John was quick to identify who Jesus was and who John the Baptist was. Jesus was the Light of the world; John was His witness and came to testify about the Light. John prepared the way and pointed the people to the Light. Jesus was and is the Light.
As evidence of the Baptist’s commitment to his calling, just a few verses later in John 1:35 he was talking with two of his disciples and as he saw Jesus he declared: “Behold, the Lamb of God." Immediately, the two followed Jesus. One of them was Simon and the other was un-named, which is the pattern the Apostle John used when referring to himself. The Apostle John had a very unique perspective as he was first a disciple of both John the Baptist then a disciple of Jesus. Because he knew who John the Baptist was (the one who prepared the way), John immediately trusted the Baptist’s testimony and followed the One for whom the way was prepared.
King David understood that his life had God-given purpose when he said in Psalm 139:15-16:
"For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully formed in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my formless substance; and in Your book were written
all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."
We all have a divine destiny and God put us here on the earth for a specific reason. There is no big or small in God’s economy – each of our lives are woven into His grand design and we have purpose. There is truth to the poem by William Ross Wallace that says, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” Never dismiss your calling as small, insignificant or unimportant. We do not know the lives we touch in our everyday.
Like John the Baptist and King David, perhaps you know the destiny for which you were put on this earth. Perhaps, you’ve never known the purpose for which you were born. Let’s take a moment to ponder the following:
1. Ask the Lord “Why have I been put on this earth?” (if you already know, great!) Take a moment to write down what Holy Spirit tells you.
2. How does that destiny advance the Kingdom of God?
3. Prayerfully consider your “yes” to the destiny the Father has given you.
4. Ask Holy Spirit to give you the next step in fulfilling that destiny and give it your full yes!
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