Mark 1:4-8

Mark 1:4-8  And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John displayed all the accoutrements and actions of a holy man, a prophet of God.  He lived alone in the wilderness, ate only locusts and wild honey, wore clothing made of camel's hair, girded himself with a leather belt, displayed long and uncut hair.  He set himself apart from the activities and culture of the secular world.  His secluded and self-sacrificing lifestyle made him the perfect man to pave the way for the Son of God because he was a messenger of God who was not distracted by the world.  He epitomized the holiness revealed in the law of God; therefore, he alone would be allowed to baptize Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.  Viewing John's holy demeanor, we easily understand why God chose him to introduce his Son to the world.  Who better to prepare the way for the Lord; who better to call people to a baptism of repentance?  Yet, Jesus said this John God trusted so much to do his work is the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.  We who sit around this breakfast table have attained a higher level of righteousness and acceptance with God than John the prophet of God.  He who sacrificed so much for God is lesser than we are in the Kingdom of Heaven.  John is a man of the Law, but we who are IN CHRIST because of enduring faith in his works are found with more righteous clothing than John, for we are clothed in Christ's righteous, holy robes bought by his precious blood.  We died with him and we are raised IN HIM to life eternal.  We are hidden WITH CHRIST IN GOD; therefore, we are totally acceptable to God.  (Colossians 3:3)  We received the privilege of entering into intimate relationship with God as his beloved children.  We do not seek acceptance into his family: we are in his family because of Christ's work on the cross.  We are now known as citizens in the Kingdom of God, joint heirs with Christ.  As we read in God's Word: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  (Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV)  

Now, how should we live, knowing we are in a position with God that is greater than John the Baptist's position?  We should live as children of God, displaying  his likeness and character to the world.  His likeness is evident to us in the attributes of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who dwells within us as a helper and a guide.  Rather than reacting negatively to people, we should be positive in our daily duties and relationships.  Rather than appearing sad and depressed, we should possess joy in our spirits that comes from a close walk with our Lord.  Rather than possessing hesitant and fearful personalities, we should be confident and bold in our interactions with others.  Knowing our lives are eternal, we want our hearts and minds to be continually caught up in the heavenlies, thinking God's thoughts.  We are not of this natural world, bound to this earth and time.  But these truths are hard for believers to grasp fully, including us.  When we face uncertainties and the frailities of the flesh, we all struggle with our fleshly weaknesses.  We have to ask ourselves hard questions sometimes:  Am I happier than the people of the world, more optimistic than they are?  Am I less fearful than my unsaved friends?  Do I display criticism and judgment more than encouragement and healing salve?  Jesus has told us we are the light of the world, the salt of the earth.  Are we serving in that capacity or are we hiding our lights under bushels and going along with the fault-finding crowd that specializes in negativity?  People are looking for lighthouses in the middle of storms.  We are called to serve and to save.  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:1-8)  

Every believer will find himself or herself struggling with faithlessness.  We read in God's Word: Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)  The joy of the Lord strengthens us, not our wisdom, not our insight into the world's problems, not our ability to argue theology.  When we face circumstances beyond our control, we must latch on by faith to the joy of the Lord, and we will find the strength of the Lord that sustains us and sees us through to the end.  As little babies receives comfort and peace when they nurse from their mothers' breasts, so must we relax in God's arms and receive the peace and joy He provides for his children.  The Bible tells us that we are in a much better place than John, the most holy man that walked this earth, the one chosen to prepare the way for the Son of God.  We have a position more secure than John, a position in the grace and mercy of a loving Father who gave everything to secure our eternal salvation.  We must enter into that place of rest provided for us every day, for God has given us that place in his loving arms.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  (Hebrews 4:9)  He goes on to say that we must not fail to enter into that rest as the children of Israel failed to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief.  Today, God is calling his children.  He is calling each of us to a closer walk with him.  He says, I am here for you.  I want to comfort you and give you my peace.  I want to fill you to overflowing with my Holy Spirit so you might bless others in my name and share my joy with them.  Come to me and I will bless you, heal you, and send you forth in the name of my Son.