"The Greatest"

We read and hear about people that many consider the "greatest." Some are so full of pride, that they even apply it to themselves. "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth, and not thine own lips." (Proverbs 27:2) Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest man ever born. Jesus saw John and knew him just like He knows everyone else. What was it about John that made him great in the eyes if Jesus? John came from a simple home. He had no great training of that day. He had no riches at all. Yet, Jesus said that John was great. It's amazing at the difference in what God sees and what man sees.

John's life was not about himself. Though he had followers, he pointed them to Jesus. He said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) John's preaching was not popular. "Repentance" was his message; and he even required signs of repentance before he would baptize anyone. John was imprisoned by King Herod because of his preaching. It was in that same prison that John was put to death.

Jesus describes John this way, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness." (Matthew 3:3) John's voice was his way of telling others of Jesus. "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of world." (John 1:29) You and I will never experience the greatness of John, but we can still be a voice for Him in this world. When was the last time you told someone about the Lord Jesus? The word "Greatest" is not about you and me - it's about the One Who died for US - Let's be a voice for HIM!

August 7th, 2016

From the Pastor,

James H. Baker