John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Most people gain our respect through specific actions or character traits. Whether it is a good worth ethic, their status, or charisma, we see their actions and begin to hold them in high esteem. Before Jesus entered the scene in the book of Mark, we meet a man who radically surrendered his life for the cause of Christ. John lived in the wilderness with strange clothing, a strange diet, and a life completely different from the culture around to point others to Jesus. And this deep devotion happened before Jesus officially arrived! Before he even met Jesus, John knew Jesus was the Son of God, who was worthy of full devotion.
So often our disposition toward God is contingent on what He is doing for us. John’s faith and ministry shows us that even when we wrestle with questions and unanswered prayers, we can follow Christ and surrender to Him because of who He is—before He’s done anything. Our faith will lead us to places where we look different from the world in the way we live at every level—from the inside out. As Christ followers, we are called to live like John, humbly pointing to Christ instead of making much of ourselves. This will often look strange to the world, but the One we are living for is worthy of full devotion.
- What is something about your life that is different because you follow Jesus?
- What needs to change for your life to further point to Christ?
- Pray and ask God to help you point to Christ in all you do today.
