Yummy, Locusts and Honey

Join me in my devotional as I work through the book of Mark.  Hope I can keep this up, but my Prayer is that we will both learn and grow in our faith.




Today I'm looking at Mark 1:1-8, "¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, ² as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way”—
³ “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’"

 ⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ 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. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  (New International Version)

I like the NLT which says "Clear the road for him" instead of "straight paths for Him", but either way, we have this idea that John is asking people to repent of their sins, and get ready for one who is greater than him (John).  

John is a wild one isn't he?   He's not the sort of guy that you would find in a church, or that you would even invite into a church.   He's smell, dresses bad, and his diet has alot to be considered.   But this is a man who lives what he preaches isn't he?

If there is a visual representation of humility, it's in John.   John isn't this prim and proper Israelite who says "Get close to god, repent" and then drives away on his 'Porshe' made horse.    No, we get the picture of this guy who's repenting himself, and who's sole mandate is to warn people about their sins, and 'Look-out' for the Messiah.   John became the lowest of the low, in order to exhalt, lift on high Jesus.   How do we do in our lives?

I think in todays Christian culture we sometimes made 'buddy buddy' with God/Christ more than we do in humbling ourselves.   I struggle with pride all the time ... we all do.   But what I'm getting from this passage today, is to humble myself, in order to proclaim the message of Forgiveness.

In fact, the more I think about it, I think that there is a direct connection to the effectiveness of our presentation of the gospel, to our willingness to humble ourselves, not only before God ... but before other people as well.   

I'm not talking about wearing cloths made of camel hair, and going around eating locusts and honey, but I am talking about being humble in our approach to people, and to God.