John the Baptist was set aside from (before his) birth to serve God. He was who the prophet Isaiah called “the messenger sent before…a voice of one calling in the desert.”
From John the Baptist, we learn what it looks like to serve God wholeheartedly and really make a difference.
1. Dedicate all of your passions to God.
John the Baptist let God pick where he lived, what he ate, what he wore. He fulfilled his role as the voice in the desert completely. He didn’t live in town, and go to the wilderness on weekends. He lived where he worked.
2. You submitted yourself to God and His calling regardless of the consequences.
There are parts of the world where they really understand this issue. In the U.S., people don’t mind if you serve God, as long as you keep it to yourself. John was called to get under people’s skin. He was called to be the VOICE CALLING. People listened. People came and were baptized. This was a pivotal point in Israel’s history, and people wanted to get right with God. They wanted to see change. People were hungry to hear what John the Baptist had to say.
When we are truly dedicated to serve God, we will be willing to speak up when He tells us to. There are some hungry people out there. We need to be willing to speak to them when God says speak. Sometimes, in the workplace, our actions are our words.
3. Be humble and give the glory to Jesus.
Even in his popularity, Johnthe Baptist never forgot Who he was serving. “One is coming, of whose sandals I am not worthy to tie.” The guy was eating grasshoppers, and had probably played tag with Jesus as a kid, and He never forgot Who he was serving. The person of Jesus never confused him – he knew Jesus was the Lamb of God – he understood that Jesus was part of God’s plan.
He was not above his failings. Like many of us, later on, when things didn’t look the way he thought they would, he sent word to Jesus. “Are you really the One?” Jesus sent back a simple message. “Tell John that the lame walk and the blind are healed.” That was enough. John the Baptist didn’t doubt again. He continued to share the good news and confront even Herod himself about his sinful relationship – right up to the day he was killed for it.
No matter your place of ministry – whether you are a minister by trade or function – God has called you. The place where you serve is uniquely crafted for you. Today, you are called to be the person God created you to be in the environment He has placed you. Whether you are in a season of plenty, like John the Baptist having people flock to him in the wilderness, or in seasons of distress, like those where he doubted from the depths of a prison – God knows and is using every moment of every day for His glory.
One Response
I read this passage this morning and it reminded me of your blog. There are time when we are not abel to speak but our actions can still bring glory to God. I pray our lives grow ever louder in glorifying our Lord but may we also have the words to speak in the right place at the right time.
Amen
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.[a]
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)