Flattery wasn't his strong suit. This straight-talking, non-nonsense, survivalist preacher was hardly one to mince words. If he were taking a course in the fine art of diplomacy, he clearly would have failed the course miserably. But, popular or not, we need more of his kind today.
John the Baptist was a major sensation on the Israeli scene when he went public. His electrifying message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2), was later echoed by Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. The Jewish people en masse responded and went to him for water baptism, including the religious leaders of the day. But, what appeared to be commendable spiritual initiative was viewed otherwise by this prophet of God.
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham'" (Matthew 3:7-9 NASB).
As was characteristic of their lives, these religious leaders were entirely focused on external appearances. The rite of baptism was merely another good external practice, devoid of any connection to a true change of heart, as was characteristic of all others who sought out John for baptism. And for this reason, these misguided leaders bore the brunt of John's most stinging rebuke. Baptism, according to John, must be accompanied by sincere inner repentance. And, just because they "grew up in church", they were no more exempt from repentance than anyone else. "Coattail spirituality" (ancestry) would no more save them than anyone else.
It's an age-old lesson, but one much too easily missed: God wants inner change, not outer compliance. External "religion" easily supersedes matters of the heart and mind. The external act of sitting in church too easily takes precedent over fully engaging one's heart and mind in sincere worship and humble obedience.
What God ultimately wants is not readily seen. The "fruit" of what He desires will be observable over time, but the inner reality of a compliant heart and mind is intensely personal, and infinitely valuable.
May the outer form of our devotion fully comply with the inner reality of a pure and humble heart.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
John the Baptist was a major sensation on the Israeli scene when he went public. His electrifying message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2), was later echoed by Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. The Jewish people en masse responded and went to him for water baptism, including the religious leaders of the day. But, what appeared to be commendable spiritual initiative was viewed otherwise by this prophet of God.
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham'" (Matthew 3:7-9 NASB).
As was characteristic of their lives, these religious leaders were entirely focused on external appearances. The rite of baptism was merely another good external practice, devoid of any connection to a true change of heart, as was characteristic of all others who sought out John for baptism. And for this reason, these misguided leaders bore the brunt of John's most stinging rebuke. Baptism, according to John, must be accompanied by sincere inner repentance. And, just because they "grew up in church", they were no more exempt from repentance than anyone else. "Coattail spirituality" (ancestry) would no more save them than anyone else.
It's an age-old lesson, but one much too easily missed: God wants inner change, not outer compliance. External "religion" easily supersedes matters of the heart and mind. The external act of sitting in church too easily takes precedent over fully engaging one's heart and mind in sincere worship and humble obedience.
What God ultimately wants is not readily seen. The "fruit" of what He desires will be observable over time, but the inner reality of a compliant heart and mind is intensely personal, and infinitely valuable.
May the outer form of our devotion fully comply with the inner reality of a pure and humble heart.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:16 AM
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