**Daily Devotional** **August 21** *2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. - Mark 1:2-4 (KJV)* The ministry of John the Baptist was so very important to the success of Jesus ministry, and was a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 40:3). John’s success at drawing people was amazing, as he went out into the desert and started preaching and baptizing people, and the nations came to him. It had to be a work of God to draw people out into the desert to hear a prophet crying in the wilderness, and causing them to repent and be baptized. God is so amazing, in that He does things totally different (Romans 11:33) than us humans would do it, as we would go to the large cities to preach the coming of the Savior. God is awesome. John was filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb, when he was only 6 months along (Luke 1:41), and leapt for joy when Mary greeted Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). For an unborn child to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and leap in the womb for joy at six months along, shows that it is a human being, and not a fetus, and abortion is killing a human being. All Christians should be completely against abortion, as it is murder. The baptism that John gave people, was for the remission of their sins, and did not impart salvation to them, as he said that Jesus was coming to baptize them with fire and the Holy Ghost (Luke 3:16). Because of the mighty ministry of John the Baptist, Jesus had the people all prepared to receive Him, and helped make Jesus be successful in His ministry. Praise God for John the Baptist. Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com