Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
John's ministry looks very like that of Elijah. Like him, he didn't do diplomacy and soft words; he told it like it was. He wasn't afraid of confronting kings (verse 9).
In a crucial way, though, his ministry was very different: it was to 'prepare the way of the Lord' (verse 16). John's commandments to the people were traditional Old Testament fare: you know what the right thing is, he says, so just do it. John's preaching seeks to turn people to righteous acts rather than letting them rely on their identity as God's people (verse 8).
The gospel, though, would be different. Jesus came to reveal God in a new and living way. Now, changed behaviour is the result of a changed relationship, not the other way round. Later, Paul was to talk about the Law as a preparation for Christ: 'And so the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, in order that we might then be put right with God through faith' (Galatians 3.24).
John's call to repentance still rings true, though. It's easy to rest on our spiritual laurels and imagine that because we are good churchgoing Christians, everything else will take care of itself; like John's first hearers who relied on their descent from Abraham. No, he says: it's what you do that matters.
Being a Christian is easy; it's like a child turning to a parent for help. It's also hard, like an athlete training for the race of their life.
God, help me to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Show me where I need to do the right thing, and let me not be afraid of the consequences.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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