Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

JOHN THE BABTIST

April 6, 2010

 John the Baptist is pictured in the gospels as a faithful servant, a unique fresh word from God to his day, but also a bit of a crank. He caught the attention of his world, but also stepped on a few toes. And we may have something in common with him.

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
-John 1:23 TNIV

We're certainly no John the Baptist, but it occurs to me that one of the functions or roles of a 21st century Christ-follower in this wilderness in which we find ourselves is that we too point the world, point our neighbor to Christ, and to make straight the way for the Lord.

If I'm right, we probably ought to be prepared for a similar response from the world, from our neighbor, as the Baptist received. Yes, Christians are to be gracious and loving, but maybe we've got a bit of crank in us as well.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson