Yesterday I heard a really good message on this verse:
Matt 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Think about it, John the Baptist was something else. He was sent from God Himself. He was the object of prophecy from ages past. He was performing excellently with people coming from all over to see him. The Roman soldiers came. The Pharisees came.
Jesus said that he was the greatest to be born yet! Think about that on your résumé. He drew the crowds. He baptized the masses. He preached stunning messages. He was brave enough to challenge the morals of the reigning authorities. He baptized Jesus himself!
If a modern TV preacher had all those accomplishment and achievements under his belt, he would probably think he deserved to give himself some comfort. He'd probably live in a 3.5 million dollar brick home in a nice suburban subdivision, granite countertops, 55" flat screen, lawn service, with a latino maid cleaning on the weekends. He'd come cruisin' into the wilderness in his 2014 Cadillac and slow to a halt next to the river. He'd remove his designer suit coat made of quality silk and start baptizing. Of course he'd drive back into town for lunch at an exquisite restaurant and order his favorite course and enjoy a couple hours of rest and relaxation.
The preacher deserves this. Its his right. I mean, look at all he's done. Look at all he's doing. He's serving God in a large way. He deserves his comfort. He has a right to some nice clothes. Its his decent reward to have some quality food on his plate.
This is an extreme example, but how often do we think like this? I deserve my comforts. I have a right to eat well. If anyone could've claimed some rights, it would be John the Baptist. If anyone deserved to have a decent set of clothes and a good square meal, it was good ol' John. But what did he wear? Camel's skin. What did he eat? Locusts and wild honey.
Can you believe that?! Locusts!?And wild honey!? Camels skin?! Would we reduce ourselves to that? No, we're above that. I mean look at what we're doing. We deserve more. We have our rights.
Or do we?
Matt 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Think about it, John the Baptist was something else. He was sent from God Himself. He was the object of prophecy from ages past. He was performing excellently with people coming from all over to see him. The Roman soldiers came. The Pharisees came.
Jesus said that he was the greatest to be born yet! Think about that on your résumé. He drew the crowds. He baptized the masses. He preached stunning messages. He was brave enough to challenge the morals of the reigning authorities. He baptized Jesus himself!
If a modern TV preacher had all those accomplishment and achievements under his belt, he would probably think he deserved to give himself some comfort. He'd probably live in a 3.5 million dollar brick home in a nice suburban subdivision, granite countertops, 55" flat screen, lawn service, with a latino maid cleaning on the weekends. He'd come cruisin' into the wilderness in his 2014 Cadillac and slow to a halt next to the river. He'd remove his designer suit coat made of quality silk and start baptizing. Of course he'd drive back into town for lunch at an exquisite restaurant and order his favorite course and enjoy a couple hours of rest and relaxation.
The preacher deserves this. Its his right. I mean, look at all he's done. Look at all he's doing. He's serving God in a large way. He deserves his comfort. He has a right to some nice clothes. Its his decent reward to have some quality food on his plate.
This is an extreme example, but how often do we think like this? I deserve my comforts. I have a right to eat well. If anyone could've claimed some rights, it would be John the Baptist. If anyone deserved to have a decent set of clothes and a good square meal, it was good ol' John. But what did he wear? Camel's skin. What did he eat? Locusts and wild honey.
Can you believe that?! Locusts!?And wild honey!? Camels skin?! Would we reduce ourselves to that? No, we're above that. I mean look at what we're doing. We deserve more. We have our rights.
Or do we?
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