Character Building - John the Baptist

Character Building – John the Baptist

Prepare the way for the Lord

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  Luke 3:8 NIV

Jesus said that there was no one greater born of a woman than his cousin John the Baptist.  He was pure in his motives and actions.  He had a laser beam focus on pointing people to follow God and prepare themselves for the coming Messiah.  John was so extreme it may seem to unrealistic to try use him as an example to follow.  Most of us are unable to quit everything and eat off the land by eating wild locust and honey.  He didn’t care what others thought of him including his choice of camel hair coverings.  His only concern was “am I doing and saying what God wants me to say.”  However, there are some aspects of his life that we would do well to incorporate into our lives.

·      John believed that people need preaching to prepare their hearts. 

o   This does not mean that he had to have a pulpit to speak from.  He knew that people are stuck in their own world of selfishness and denial.  Preaching (telling others what God thinks) penetrates into the inner thoughts so a person can hear God.

·      John preached often about the good news

o   Just telling people they are sinners is not good news, most already know that they have made bad decisions.  The good news lets people know that there is hope.  God has made a path for salvation for them to follow.  We should regularly be sharing the good news with those we are in relationship with.

·      John believed that changed behavior should follow changed beliefs

o   Is your life in sync with your beliefs? Kids smell hypocrisy when parents tell their children, “do as I say, not as I do.”  Moral authority will be regained by Christians when we live out the values that we say we believe.  John lived what he preached…no one accused him of hypocrisy.

·      John always pointed people to Jesus…I must decrease that he may increase

o   Humility was John’s clothing.  Others were saying nice things about his character, authority, and persuasiveness. John always pointed people to Jesus with true humility.  Remembering that we are his children can keep us humble.  Apart from the vine, we can do nothing.

·      When you preach against the sins of the culture...you can end up in jail

o   When you decide to point out sins be prepared for push back.  Standing up for the babies who are being aborted is still unpopular.  If you address sexual sins you will be told that you are out of step with society and need sensitivity training.  Some will take up the call to raise the righteous standard of holy living.  It is a zeal that follows the footsteps of John the Baptist, but few trod along that path.

Where would you expect to see and hear John in your town today?  Can a person be too radical in following Jesus?  What would you tell John that you are doing to prepare the way for people to receive Jesus?