October 22

It is not a stretch to say that John wasn't out to win friends. He did want to influence people though. He wanted people to repent and I think that was preparation for Messiah. My heart, when it is steeped in sin, isn't ready for a Savior.

John wasn't afraid of man. He wasn't trying to grow a church or anything else. He was doing what he was told, call out mankind on their sin! Although that is part of my calling as well, through our methods are different - some of the time, my primary task is to shepherd, but it is also prophet. That is the way I process - black and white. God is speaking to me saying be bold! Don't be afraid of the result of your words when I tell you to speak them. Don't be afraid of the standards that you raise when I tell you to raise them. Be afraid to not... John's job was to point people to Jesus as their Messiah - to ready them to receive the Kingdom of God as it would come - spiritually. I don't have to model his method or verbiage, I have to model is heart and his obedience to his call. Unashamed and unafraid.