January 20, 2015
The man certainly couldn’t be credited with good social or public relations skills. He was immensely popular, however, in spite of serious deficiencies in these areas. There was something electrifying and compelling about his simple message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3.2)
This survivalist-styled wilderness prophet was the divinely appointed advance man for God’s Son; "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!' “ (Matthew 3.3; Isaiah 40.3). And, John’s message was absolutely straight-arrow; consider what he had the audacity to say to the Jewish religious leaders, coming out to also be baptized by him: "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)
While some might consider his words a serious public relations disaster, they were authoritative and spot-on. What applied to the religious leaders applies to all: “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. Walk consistently with the talk; do what you say; live like you mean it.
There are many critics of the people of God, and the hypocrisy accusation is most often leveled against us. Many who are indifferent and even antagonistic toward involvement seem to have a keen eye for lifestyle inconsistency. Blatant hypocrisy, to be sure, is a curse and blight on the church, but all will fail at some point if looked at critically under a judgmental microscope. The popular defense, “Christians aren’t perfect; just forgiven,” rings true, but does not excuse pursuit of John’s admonition to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. And that is done in participation with the One who followed John; who “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3.11) The self-improvement plan is to be carried out supernaturally by those who are wiling to participate.
We’re indebted to John, Jesus’ advance man, for a straight, spot-on message about repentance and lifestyle. The call to straighten out the crooked before the coming of Christ is as pertinent today as it was then. The same Christ is coming back, and the same need remains. It’s time to clear the clutter of hypocrisy; time to plot a straight path through life toward the coming King and kingdom. A prepared people of God can be used mightily to help prepared a world of unbelievers, while there is still time. John stills speaks to a generation today, and calls us to be about what he was all about.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
This survivalist-styled wilderness prophet was the divinely appointed advance man for God’s Son; "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!' “ (Matthew 3.3; Isaiah 40.3). And, John’s message was absolutely straight-arrow; consider what he had the audacity to say to the Jewish religious leaders, coming out to also be baptized by him: "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)
While some might consider his words a serious public relations disaster, they were authoritative and spot-on. What applied to the religious leaders applies to all: “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. Walk consistently with the talk; do what you say; live like you mean it.
There are many critics of the people of God, and the hypocrisy accusation is most often leveled against us. Many who are indifferent and even antagonistic toward involvement seem to have a keen eye for lifestyle inconsistency. Blatant hypocrisy, to be sure, is a curse and blight on the church, but all will fail at some point if looked at critically under a judgmental microscope. The popular defense, “Christians aren’t perfect; just forgiven,” rings true, but does not excuse pursuit of John’s admonition to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. And that is done in participation with the One who followed John; who “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3.11) The self-improvement plan is to be carried out supernaturally by those who are wiling to participate.
We’re indebted to John, Jesus’ advance man, for a straight, spot-on message about repentance and lifestyle. The call to straighten out the crooked before the coming of Christ is as pertinent today as it was then. The same Christ is coming back, and the same need remains. It’s time to clear the clutter of hypocrisy; time to plot a straight path through life toward the coming King and kingdom. A prepared people of God can be used mightily to help prepared a world of unbelievers, while there is still time. John stills speaks to a generation today, and calls us to be about what he was all about.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 8:21 AM
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