In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” ’ Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ (Matthew 3:1-12, NRSV)
Have you ever done something because “everyone else” was doing it?
That is the thought I get when I read what John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees. I hear Him asking them, “Why are you here, just because everyone else is?” We think we need to do what others are doing so we will be cool. We need to be a part of the in crowd, and not need to stand out.
We go along with things everyday that go against what we believe because we think it is easier to just go with the flow than to stand up for what we believe.
But why do we do the things we do?
Why are we moved to do things differently than society?
God created us to be different, to be stand outs!
God created you to be a beacon of hope that will shine and show people the path to Him.
So shine and go against the crowd! And don’t just go with the flow but help the flow go where it will be fed!
aSacredRebel 