ISAIAH 12
A Song of Praise

At that time you will say, "I thank you, LORD!  You were angry with me, but you stopped being angry and gave me comfort.  I trust you to save me, LORD God, and I won't be afraid.  My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me."

With great joy, you people will get water from the well of victory.  At that time you will say, "Our LORD, we are thankful, and we worship only you.  We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done.  Because of your wonderful deeds we will sing your praises everywhere on earth."

Sing, people of Zion!  Celebrate the greatness of the holy LORD of Israel.  God is here to help you.

MATTHEW 11:1-19
John the Baptist
(Luke 7.18-35)

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns.  John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?"
Jesus answered, "Go and tell John what you have heard and seen.  The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear.  The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news.  God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do."  As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see?  Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind?  What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes?  People who dress like that live in the king's palace.  What did you really go out to see?  Was he a prophet? He certainly was.  I tell you that he was more than a prophet.  In the Scriptures God says about him, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to get things ready for you."  I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist.  But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.  All the Books of the Prophets and the Law of Moses told what was going to happen up to the time of John.  And if you believe them, John is Elijah, the prophet you are waiting for.  If you have ears, pay attention!  You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other, "We played the flute, but you would not dance!  We sang a funeral song, but you would not mourn!"

John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, "That man has a demon in him!"  But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, "That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.

LUKE 3:7-18

Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment?  Do something to show that you really have given up your sins.  Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.  An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots.  Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire."  The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"

John told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else."
When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?"  John told them, "Don't make people pay more than they owe."
Some soldiers asked him, "And what about us? What do we have to do?"
John told them, "Don't force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay."
Everyone became excited and wondered, "Could John be the Messiah?"
John said, "I am just baptizing with water.  But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.  He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the husks with a fire that never goes out."  In many different ways John preached the good news to the people.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

Always be glad because of the Lord!  I will say it again: Be glad.  Always be gentle with others.  The Lord will soon be here.  Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.  With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand.  And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper.  Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.  You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example.  And God, who gives peace, will be with you.