It is absolutely essential that Christians always keep in mind that just as the prophets of the Old Testament came and received their unique prophecies from the Lord, and made them known to the people—that we also have an important responsibility to convey what is in the Word of God.
We must always give our thanks and praises to the Lord for guiding us, and we should not draw any attention or glory toward ourselves. Remember all we do — has to be done exclusively for the glory of God and his perfect will. On this one matter, every single one of us should be in complete agreement.
There should be no ambiguity regarding this very important issue of our hearts. If you are already doing this, then you have nothing to fear. But if you are not, if you do not have this Lord- focused viewpoint deep in your heart, then you are not doing what the Lord wants you to do. Correct this now, and put the crosshairs of your heart back upon the Lord.
Just look at the very dedicated John the Baptist, son of Zacharias. It is very clear in God’s Word that he was a wonderfully humble man who clearly didn’t desire at all what most of us usually want, a name for ourselves, and a life of our own choosing and our own timing.
This is something that we ourselves take full advantage of every day going through our own lives. This usually includes mapping out from a relatively young age how we should live our own lives; often getting married, procreating and raising our children as we see fit (in our own image). And moving forward with a full life of looking after the family, living in the community, often buying and selling, trying new and exciting experiences, travelling to other countries for exotic holidays and having the time of our lives for our own self-satisfaction and enjoyment.
But John did just the opposite. It is very clear that John’s desire was to dedicate himself exclusively and completely to his Heavenly Father’s will, and to the Great One who would soon to arrive. This was to the detriment of John’s own personal will and opportunity that he had to run his own life, potentially exploring all avenues and experiences that all of us have right now, to run our own lives exercising our own individual free wills.
Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
It was recorded that John lived very simply in the wilderness on his own, eating locusts and wild honey, forsaking all the comforts of a home and the love of a wife and children, all for the glory of God and preparing for and announcing the Great One who would soon to come. This urgent message which he was charged with presenting, as far as he was concerned, was infinitely more important to him than anything else in the world—including his own will.
He was clearly the humble trumpet heralding the Very Important Person who would soon to arrive, and this essential message had to get out there with haste; this was something that was marked with extreme urgency. He baptized all those who listened to him and accepted his important message which he personally received from the Lord.
He informed the people about the Great One who would soon to arrive, and who would take on the sins of the world exclusively upon his narrow shoulders, with breathtaking humility yielding to His Heavenly Father’s will; and ultimately for the benefit of all mankind.
When John was challenged by the officials who were sent to find out all about him, he made it very clear that he was none of the great ones that he was being asked to identify. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t even have a name; he described himself only as the voice of one crying in the wilderness as it had been foretold in Bible prophecy in the Old Testament.
This was a very important message for everyone in that day to listen to; to humble themselves before the coming of the Lord and seek him out with all their hearts.
John stated in Luke 3:5-6:
“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Every valley shall be filled – the genuinely humble ones, saved by the grace of Jesus shall be raised up in the sight of the Father, to be as white as snow, and have eternal life;
Every mountain and hill shall be brought low – The arrogant, proud and boastful ones shall be humbled and shamed by the Lord Jesus in the awesome Day of Judgement;
The crooked shall be made straight – The will of the evil ones will not defeat God’s will because Jesus has already overcome the world in the great temptation;
the rough ways shall be made smooth – The hearts and minds of the children of God who have accepted Jesus are paving the way to praising and glorifying God.
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God – All will be present on Judgement day to see Jesus, the salvation of God sitting at the right hand of the Father.
If we start praising John, I’m very sure he would immediately cry out: “Stop this right now! Do not praise me for I am nothing, focus on the Lord whom I announced with haste, the unique and holy Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world. This is where you must focus all your attention and praise, and seek him out with all your heart. “
This is totally understandable, so we would then admire the humble actions of the man, so it can be an example to all of us of how we can live. After Jesus had come, John stated with great humility when talking about Jesus: He must increase, but I must decrease. He knew that his important job of heralding the coming of the Lord Jesus at that time was coming to an end and he began to stand down and go into the background — so Jesus would get all the limelight, as so He should, after all He was taking on a terrible burden for all of us on our behalf.
Jesus stated in Luke 7:28:
“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Jesus acknowledged the extreme humility of John, but also emphasized in that statement that humility is exactly what he wants to see from anyone—genuine and honest humility. Remember this, he does not want to observe anyone of you putting on a show for others to see, while having and enjoying an audience.
Remember always to put Jesus first in everything you say and do, praying to Him in private, being compassionate to those in genuine need, and with an honest heart before His face.
He can see right into your heart and knows immediately if you are not being genuine with Him and seeking an audience for your own glory.
Follow Jesus’ example to His Heavenly Father’s will. Jesus has seriously gone out on a limb for everyone to present those who are genuine in heart and spirit without selfish ambitions a way back into the wonderful presence of God the Father.