When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Luke 7:24, 25.
Once John the Baptists disciples had gone, Christ's disciples started to object to John's questioning of their Master. Jesus seeing this turns his powerful gaze towards His own disciples.
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Luke 7:24.
Jesus reminds His followers that John the Baptist is a man:
"Great in the sight of the Lord." Luke 1:15.
Reason 2: We don't appreciate what we have.
Jesus goes on describing John:
"But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts. Luke 7:25
Undoubtedly men in soft garments were to be found in kings courts, and not in their prisons. John's strength and commitment are not lost on his Master, but rather they are held dear to His heart.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' Luke 7:26, 27.
John was not just a prophet, he was a prophet who himself had been prophesied about (Malachi 3:1.) More then this according to Jesus:
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist Luke 7:28.
The reason Jesus disciples met John the Baptists question with such scorn was because they themselves did not yet know how to appreciate what they had. Appreciating something is understanding what something is, and seeing it as God has given it. That means placing the same value on something that God places on it, for the same reasons God places value on it.
Jesus knows the key to appreciating John the Baptist is to see the value God puts on him. Jesus also knew that His disciples and many other people had formerly appreciated John's ministry because He spoke fearlessly, and honestly:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Luke 7:24.
Sometimes learning to appreciate those around us requires us to recall the things that attracted us to them in the first place. So often it is those very things that draw us towards someone that end up driving us away from them. But we need to value people because God values them, not because we value them.
Application: God appreciating something is where our appreciation for that thing should come from.
Why do you love your church? Is it because of what it has to offer you, or is it because God loved it first? God does not value what you get out of a church. When you stand before God in judgement He is not going to say: "What did you think about that church you attended? Could you give me your opinion, because I would really like to know?" Rather God is going to say: "This is the point where I put a value on what you did in My church." 1 Corinthians 3:12. If you do not learn to appreciate things because God appreciates them, then you are in danger of having nothing of value to offer God on the day of judgement. Find out what someone likes, and get it for them this is the secret to every good relationship.
Once John the Baptists disciples had gone, Christ's disciples started to object to John's questioning of their Master. Jesus seeing this turns his powerful gaze towards His own disciples.
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Luke 7:24.
Jesus reminds His followers that John the Baptist is a man:
"Great in the sight of the Lord." Luke 1:15.
Reason 2: We don't appreciate what we have.
Jesus goes on describing John:
"But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts. Luke 7:25
Undoubtedly men in soft garments were to be found in kings courts, and not in their prisons. John's strength and commitment are not lost on his Master, but rather they are held dear to His heart.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' Luke 7:26, 27.
John was not just a prophet, he was a prophet who himself had been prophesied about (Malachi 3:1.) More then this according to Jesus:
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist Luke 7:28.
The reason Jesus disciples met John the Baptists question with such scorn was because they themselves did not yet know how to appreciate what they had. Appreciating something is understanding what something is, and seeing it as God has given it. That means placing the same value on something that God places on it, for the same reasons God places value on it.
Jesus knows the key to appreciating John the Baptist is to see the value God puts on him. Jesus also knew that His disciples and many other people had formerly appreciated John's ministry because He spoke fearlessly, and honestly:
"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Luke 7:24.
Sometimes learning to appreciate those around us requires us to recall the things that attracted us to them in the first place. So often it is those very things that draw us towards someone that end up driving us away from them. But we need to value people because God values them, not because we value them.
Application: God appreciating something is where our appreciation for that thing should come from.
Why do you love your church? Is it because of what it has to offer you, or is it because God loved it first? God does not value what you get out of a church. When you stand before God in judgement He is not going to say: "What did you think about that church you attended? Could you give me your opinion, because I would really like to know?" Rather God is going to say: "This is the point where I put a value on what you did in My church." 1 Corinthians 3:12. If you do not learn to appreciate things because God appreciates them, then you are in danger of having nothing of value to offer God on the day of judgement. Find out what someone likes, and get it for them this is the secret to every good relationship.
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