The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Do you ever reflect, “How did I do that?” Sometimes I finish a writing session contemplating, “How did you think of that?” Then, I remind myself I didn’t think of it, God put it in my head.
As we studied in the first chapter of Luke, Zechariah, John’s father and a priest, prophesied about his son after a period of being unable to speak. John was famous when he was born and people searched him out in the wilderness. He had his own disciples as he left the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. He was an immediate celebrity, and people wondered if John was the Messiah.
John was a humble, caring man who had the power of the Holy Spirit upon him since birth. He compares himself to Jesus by saying he was unworthy to be Jesus’ slave. He also compares his method of baptism to Jesus’. John will baptize or immerse with water, a symbol for the cleansing of sin, whereas Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit who has God’s power, the power of fire, to completely cleanse the sin we carry inside of us and to finish His work in us.
Father, God, keep us immersed in the Holy Spirit, so we may have your supernatural power to cleanse us and carry out the acts you want us to complete for you.
Yes, I do believe that God is within us and can help us do things that we could not do by ourselves. This is hard for me because where does our free will start and stop. Do I really believe that God is giving me the actual words to put on the paper or just putting me in the right frame of mind so that I am able to write what is in my heart? I am not sure if we can think God did that or God gave me that ability to do that. Not sure if this makes any sense but somehow I feel that God is with me but doesn’t actually do it for me.
We always have free will to do anything by ourselves. We also have free will to ask God to help us or to give us words. It sounds like you are writing a letter. God knows the frame of mind the person receiving it will be in. So, it is wise to ask God to give you the right words. Always let God know how you are feeling and what positive goal you want to accomplish.