Amen, Jim and Pastor Sean! The true teacher sent of God will not speak his own words, but will take joy in pointing all to Christ and His Word. What a privilege we have to know God and to be His witnesses as the the world draws to its end. It is the loveliness of Jesus, His character, that is drawing all to Him. This book we are reading is such a powerful expression of that loveliness. And, by reading it daily, we shall continue to be greatly blessed.
My mind was impressed with the character of John. He had been deceived about the mission of Christ. He thought, like the rest of Israel, that the Messiah would reign from an earthly throne. But, John's character was formed after the likeness of Jesus. There were no prophets greater than John. He came in the power and Spirit of Elijah. How did he manage to form such a character being so deceived about the mission of Jesus?
From our reading a week ago, we read:
God had called the son of Zacharias to a great work, the greatest ever committed to men. In order to accomplish this work, he must have the Lord to work with him. And the Spirit of God would be with him if he heeded the instruction of the angel.
John was to go forth as Jehovah's messenger, to bring to men the light of God. He must give a new direction to their thoughts. He must impress them with the holiness of God's requirements, and their need of His perfect righteousness. Such a messenger must be holy. He must be a temple for the indwelling Spirit of God. In order to fulfill his mission, he must have a sound physical constitution, and mental and spiritual strength. Therefore it would be necessary for him to control the appetites and passions. He must be able so to control all his powers that he could stand among men as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness.
He was holy. How did he develop such holiness? We also read "The Holy Spirit rested upon Zacharias, and in these beautiful words he prophesied of the mission of his son: "Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest." He father was a consecrated priest, as was his mother. John was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He parents were instructed how to rear him. They obeyed the counsel given.
So it is in our day. If parents were to be fully surrendered to Jesus, if they walked in the counsels given, such as in Child Guidance, then they too would see the results of their faithfulness to God. But, many ignore and reject the light given. How very sad. The result is seen in their children. So many leave the church.
And many others reject the gospel message. In today's reading we see a little more about the character of John and the need he and we have to be continually looking unto Jesus.
The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour's glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. . . . For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." Christ could say, "I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me." John 5:30. To Him it is declared, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Hebrews 1:9. The Father "giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him."
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Colossians 2:9, 10, R. V.