Our friend, Donald Duck, was probably never known for his humility. On the contrary, he usually seemed to be doing things to draw attention to himself. Is there anyone who hasn't deliberately tried to get the attention of others?
This is me trying not to make a comparison between Donald and any of the folks currently running for public office. (No, of course it's not really me. But I love her red nail polish and smiling eyes. And you get the point of working to keep at least a few of my ideas to myself, right?)
As I've been reading the gospel of John the apostle,I've tried to see its accounts of people and events through new eyes. Chapter three jumps from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus to a description of John the baptizer.
While Nicodemus played cloak and dagger, John (the baptizer) was loud and proud about the need for repentance, for the forgiveness only God can give. But it was only the message he shared that was proud.
When some of John's disciples can to him about Jesus's growing number of followers, he wasn't bothered in the least.
As I've been reading the gospel of John the apostle,I've tried to see its accounts of people and events through new eyes. Chapter three jumps from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus to a description of John the baptizer.
While Nicodemus played cloak and dagger, John (the baptizer) was loud and proud about the need for repentance, for the forgiveness only God can give. But it was only the message he shared that was proud.
When some of John's disciples can to him about Jesus's growing number of followers, he wasn't bothered in the least.
26 Then they came to John and said, “Teacher, remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? He is the one you were telling everyone about. He is also baptizing people, and many are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person can receive only what God gives. 28 You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only the one God sent to prepare the way for him.’
John 3:26-28 ERV
Dear Reader, may I tell you a secret? Once in awhile I like being in the limelight. (I know that's a big shocker, right?) Attention and applause can be fun. Let's chalk it up to being the baby in the family.
The more I read about John the baptizer, the more I think I want to be like him. He was motivated by one thing, preparing the way and pointing others to Christ. John wasn't in it for the attention, or the applause, or the numbers. I'll bet he would have cared less for how he was polling with his constituency.
It used to be John's apparent arrogance that I found intriguing. Now I understand it to be confidence, single-mindedness. His fervor for his God-given mission seem only matched by his humility.
The only bow John the baptizer seemed interested in taking was in deference to his Savior:
It used to be John's apparent arrogance that I found intriguing. Now I understand it to be confidence, single-mindedness. His fervor for his God-given mission seem only matched by his humility.
The only bow John the baptizer seemed interested in taking was in deference to his Savior:
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 29-30 NASB
Dear Reader, can we humble ourselves to cast our worldly rags before the King and bow to his Sovereignty? Are we brave enough to be humble?
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