John was not the most tactful of people. Yet, he drew people to listen to him as he spoke of the coming Messiah. Jesus was not hung up about John's somewhat abrasive exterior because Jesus saw what made
John an extraordinary person.
John firmly believed in the saving grace of the coming Messiah even though, unlike us, he would never know the whole story. John knew that God was a God of justice who would settle the debt of
sin. What John never knew was the fullness of the love of God experienced through the cross. But we are in a far better position than John the Baptist because we know the whole story.
Jesus may call on any of us to be his
voice, his hands, his storyteller, and yet we may not witness personally the full extent of the loving touch of Jesus for the person we reach out to. We have the full story of the extent of Jesus' love.
So there is no
reason to live without faith, hope and love, nor should we shy away from witnessing the saving grace of Jesus. Instead, we should hold fast to the faith, hope and love Jesus gives us daily to serve him.
What may Jesus be
asking of you at this time? What may Jesus be inviting you to take hold of?
