No one can begin to image the day in time which John the Baptist the forerunner of the Messiah and the prepare of the hearts of Israel first for repentance and then to receive Salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Most of us have had the joy of seeing a new born baby. A baby born with new parents are not only happy, but have a hope and future plan for their baby. We see the tiny baseball outfits, basketball, football, the tiny suit, or frilly princess dress, or the last baby toy or clothes representing doctors, lawyers, truck drivers and so much more. Each parent hoping that their child will be not only happy but with a good career one day. I do not know anyone that ever said I hope this child is a preacher, a teacher or a prophet. Yet we see the hope of the children of Israel. Yet Zacharias son whose name is John is not only a forerunner but a preparer of the hearts of Israel for the coming Messiah.

When you share the Gospel do you see yourself as a preparer. One to prepare the feast for a spiritual dinner. To see a crowd come to repentance, the only thing that are needed is truth, discussion on sinfulness, belief in God who is full of grace for mankind, and our need for repentance because of God's mercy can be obtained by turning from sin and confession of sin. Then the need to receive Christ the Savior of the world. With God call of being abassador for our life from the time of our salvation, we begin to understand as we share our job is to reunite people to God the Father through His Son Jesus who died for our sins. His death burying our sins and his resurrection bring forth a new life to live for him, sharing with others that same hope we ourselves received of eternal life.by believeing in Jesus. This forerunner was only a prepare for the people to meet Jesus, he would not be bring salvation for Christ had yet to die and be resurrected. Jesus taught repentance and forgiveness before his death, he taught scripture through parables, and he taught hope through faith. He taught about the devil and destruction, telling devil was the enemy and God will destroy the heathen as he did Sodom and Gomorrah.

John was prechosen before birth for this task/duties of preaching and teaching, something the parents planned not. Yet no doubt John would follow in his father Zecharias footsteps by learning all he could about the priesthood and what the scrolls said. He would learn to teach the gentiles in the wilderness. This special birth no doubt was shared all over Judea and beyond. The news alone of a child with unusual name would be enough to be spread and question would surface wonder what this means, or what does God have in store for this baby. If you live in a small community you know how quick word spreads and circles back around. It might circle around for days and it doesn't have to be a person of outstanding achievements in the community. Elizabeth was a chastised woman of the community because she was barren. She was now redeemed by the birth of a child. A woman should never have to feel rejection of shunning of a community because of no children or for having a child out of wedlock. And though society much different then even 30 years ago, or even 100, the difference is truly seen in society. How people viewed her with a child changed and was truly noted, because they came and rejoiced with her. Zecharias spent time praise God for his Son and Praise God for his purpose and the purpose of the coming Messiah. He was one priest that new and believed in the promise Messiah to come as long as believing his son was to be the forerunner of the Messiah. I can imagine him perhaps dragging out every scripture concerning the Messiah as well as everything on repentance to help him learn things that needed to be proclaimed. and yet in all truth he would teach by the Holy Spirit as all ministers must and not by the instructions of their teachers always, but as God leads them to teach and preach. Often students of one pastor or another will sound like their teacher. No clue if John Baptist sounded like his father. With God choosing these two parents for this task of raising John the Baptist we can understand he also gave him parents that would know how to train him to do the duties he was called to do. God's preparation for John the baptist no doubt came with those special parents.

Remember each person is special in God's sight. God is with you if you believe in Him. He can take you from bad situation and put you in a good one, or change situation as you learn to obey and trust in him. He can enable you to be a person for his purpose and honor. He can able you to use your talents. John was conceived and born for purpose. We are too, but we have the choice to follow after Christ. It is a choice to obey God and choice to repent and believe in his salvation plan through Christ Jesus. Though he preordained us for a purpose scripture says, we must release his call is for all mankind to recieve his plan of salvation through faith In Christ. As a child of faith he preordained us to share the gospel to be the forerunners of Christ return, proclaiming he will return one day. John did not have a choice in his station, he was given it to help prepare the people who had not been taught necessarily the ways of God or the need of repentance, the backslidden children of Israel. He taugth both Israel and the gentiles. What is God preparing you to be for His glory. You might not look like much now, but you will be jewel when it all over, like a rare pearl.

Dear Heavenly Father, prepare me to be that person you designed me to be. Enable me to follow you and listen to your Spirit as you guide my footsteps.In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: 1 Peter 2:9-12 KJV
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.