Thursday, August 29, 2002
Meditation
Mark 6:17-29
The Beheading of John the Baptist
Lord our God, grant us forerunners like John the Baptist in our day. Send out men and women who go before the Lord to prepare his way. Raise up zealous missionaries who break new ground for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Inspire men and women to seek you in desert solitude—to fast, pray, and sacrifice to usher in your kingdom.
O Lord our God, we ask you to send young men and women like John the Baptist into the world—people filled with the power of your Spirit from their earliest years. Through them, flood our malls and highways, our schools, homes, and office buildings with the river of life. Send them into every country to transform the culture of death into a garden of life. Light the fire of your love in them, so that they will gladly give all for you—ever seeking your face and hearing your word.
O Jesus our Savior, raise up new prophets like John the Baptist, who will speak your word courageously. Fill believers with the gift of prophecy and send them into the church to renew, revive, purify, and lift our hearts to heaven. Give these new prophets the sword of your Spirit to cut through the darkness and confusion and reveal your light and truth. May your word issue forth as a powerful proclamation to every country, bringing humanity back to you, the Prince of Peace.
Father most merciful, grant us new John the Baptists who are willing to die for your word and for the gospel of Christ. Send them into the lands where evil has a strong foothold. Strengthen them to crush the head of the enemy and bring new life, even to the shedding of their blood. May all your people today be willing to lay down their lives so that a civilization of love may spring forth. Grant each one of us the grace to decrease so that Jesus may increase.
“Lord, make us all as holy as John the Baptist was. Teach us to seek you first, shunning the riches of this world in favor of your heavenly treasures. Make our families holy in word and deed, mini-churches determined to serve the mission of Jesus. O Lord, may men and women and children everywhere come to love you and work to usher in your kingdom!”
Beautiful!