Mark 1:6-8 “John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” NIV
Mark 1:6-8 is a demonstration of a powerful principle. The life and the ministry go together. The book of Mark introduces the ministry of John the Baptist with such simple clarity, a messenger sent from God to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. It is not complicated and it is very focused in purpose. The people have been without the moving of God in their nation for hundreds of years and then suddenly out in the wilderness a messenger appears. He is clothed in camel’s hair. His diet is very simple and conservative. There is nothing worldly about him.
When asked about himself, his only response is “I am a voice… I am not worthy.” God sends a messenger with no personal agenda other than to be the voice of God. He has no selfish ambition, no desire for self promotion or personal greatness. His eyes are on the purpose of God and the work that he has been sent to do. His only thought is to point people to Jesus. When a competitive spirit seeks to gain entrance into the ministry through the voice of his disciples his response in Jn. 3:30 is “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He was content for the fame of Christ to increase and did not live in pursuit of his own prominence. In fact he recognized that people’s loyalty to him could in fact separate them from the very Messiah that he had come to introduce them to.
Many ministers fall into the trap of building something for God in the beginning then allowing what they are building to become the focus rather than true allegiance to God. This tendency produces countless numbers of wounded saints who are now bound to us rather than to the Lord. We must never teach a message that compels people to an unhealthy loyalty to what we are doing. The calling of John’s disciples to walk with his ministry was for a season and when that season was over he was able to release them. He did not want to lose them to the world but was freely able to lose them to the higher purpose of God. We must always preserve a heart that points people to that moment when they might have to move on in obedience to Christ’s calling.
Church leaders today are often more inclined to persuade people to a false loyalty to their ministry rather than a costly obedience to Christ, wherever that may lead. John demonstrated a willingness to surrender himself for the sake of Christ. His ultimate mission was to direct people to an abandoned life before God, not himself. He recognized that the need of man could only be met through a personal connection to Christ. Because of this he could let go of all things and embrace the lessening of his own voice for the sake of the higher purpose of God. Make it your mission to align people with what God is doing, wherever you find it!
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