A PASSION FOR GOD AND REPENTANCE: THE 7 LESSONS FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST
by Mihran Kulhanjian
Dear Friends,
John the Baptist was one of the most passionate people who ever lived. He was loyal to God and honored God and gave glory to God. He paved the way for Jesus. Jesus said: "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" [Luke 7:28].
Passion is one word which exemplifies John the Baptists relationship with God. His passion was so great he went into the desert alone and lived there in solitude to get closer to God. This was before he started his ministry.
He was bold. He was a radical. John the Baptist was not afraid to express his views loudly and publicly. To many, including the Pharisees, he was an eccentric with magnetism.
John C. Maxwell explains in The Maxwell Leadership Bible:
His passion for God made him this way and people were drawn to Him to be baptized—"preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."—Luke 3:3.
What gives a person passion? With John it was God.
John needed passion to fulfill his God-given calling" Every pioneer needs passion. Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain. They create from nothing.—The Maxwell Leadership Bible.
John was a pioneer in teaching the multitudes "about repentance for the remission of sins."
What gives you your passion? Could you be a pioneer for God's Word? Could you be an ambassador for God? Are you an outgoing witness for Christ, sharing the Gospel message with others?
The Lord wants us close to Him. He wants us to rely on Him. Follow these seven lessons from John the Baptist and you might get everything you've dreamed about and more in this life and the next.
1. The Results of Solitude
John went into the wilderness alone and focused his energy on God in solitude. We all need solitude from time-to-time. To study and to retain God's Word, we need solitude for concentration. As a committed Christian, you will need solitude to study and reflect on your past and to concentrate on God's Word. Go somewhere quiet. Be alone. Read your Bible, books on God's Word and commentaries. Reflect on your past and plan for the future--your future with the Lord. Study your notes. One hour a day of solitary study could make a enormous positive difference in your walk with God.
2. The Power of Diligence
John was a hard worker. He baptized in the Jordan and preached the importance of repentance. His message quickly spread. To walk with God you will have to work hard and be committed. Are you compelled to be a disciple of Christ? All true Christians should be compelled. To be great you will have to be obsessed. You might even be an object of ridicule, but obsession is good if it benefits you, your family and others, and above all, glorifies God. Don't live for man but live for God. And when it benefits God, it's very good for everybody. How does your obsession benefit God? You can be polite, sober, courteous, and respectful of your fellow man. The fruit of the Spirit should be present [Galatians 5:22-23]. You can be helpful and not argumentative. You could donate time and money to worthy causes that please God. And you can thank God for all He has provided for you, and by giving you the power to be diligent, if not physically, then spiritually. "I can do all things through the one who empowers my within" [Philippians 4:13].
3. Consumed With Your Mission
John was consumed with his mission. He knew he was called to pave the way for Jesus. He knew the Messiah by sight before he even saw Him. He knew He must become less important the Jesus more important.
John said:
"as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
A committed Christian must be consumed with his mission. There is no way around it. If your mission is to commence doing God's will you will have to be fully engaged. Again, you must be obsessed with loving and obeying the Lord and loving others as yourself. Once you become obsessed with your mission, success is all but imminent.
4. Magnetic Personality for Justice
John attracted people to listen to his words, to become baptized. Because he had a powerful personality he attracted many people and he also detracted others who did not want to repent or found him too unusual or radical. He told people to be just. His passion for God instilled in him a cause for justice because God is just.
So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"
He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"
So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."—Luke 3:10-14
Do you have a magnetic personality? This does not mean all are boisterous, loud or hyper extroverts. A believer with quiet confidence can also be a magnetic personality. People, even non-Christians respect a person of loyal conviction and integrity. They might not show it or express it, but people recognize a just, fair, and honest person, a person with steadfast integrity, who is void of arrogance and humble in spirit and one who confronts the struggles the world presents with verve.
5. Black or White, Right or Wrong
John saw things as being black or white. It is right or wrong. Many strong personality types see life this way as well. In life there are correct decisions and incorrect decisions—right or wrong. I true believer sees things in black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. There is only one way--God's way. No exceptions.
6. Action Oriented
John was a man of action. He did not wait for Jesus' coming before he started his mission; he prepared the way. All winners with God became winners by taking action. They put in lots of hours of study, lots of time in their Bible and a lot of time thinking about God, specific verses, and God's plan for them. And then they took action. They got out into the world. It is by grace we are saved through our faith in Jesus, but because of our faith we do good works.
Men of action are required in every field introduced to them. Men of action rise to the top; they take advantage of new opportunities in new areas and in new places, cities and countries. There is no substitute for taking action. Action creates results. Offensive tactics put you in charge of positive outcomes that benefit God's plan. Be the aggressor—be action oriented when it comes to knowing God and being an evangelist or witness for God. God wants us to be men and woman of action for the Kingdom and for truth.
7. Enthusiasm
John was enthusiastic for the coming of the Lord. He did things that others thought were strange and many thought he was a prophet. Could he be Isaiah or the Messiah himself people thought? John was enthusiastic about his calling, about preparing the way, and the repentance of sin among the people and among Herod the tetrarch:
"Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod and done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.—Luke 3:19-20
John ended up in prison and die there, beheaded by Herod.
Are you enthusiastic about God? Are you prepared to work hard and do your best for Him? Are you excited when you open your Bible? Build your enthusiasm with John the Baptist. Don't give up, or give in when adversity strikes. Stand by your convictions. Trust in the Lord with all assurance and confidence. He will never forsake you. "If God is for us who can be against us" [Romans 8:31]. And by the way, say your prayers. God's listening.