Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Imagine if you would that you are a merchant in a caravan transporting your goods to Jerusalem and you encounter this nut job in the desert. Time is money and you don’t have time to stop and put your goods at risk. You do have a tale to tell to anyone who might listen about what you saw and could not understand. Why would anyone be preaching to the rocks?

Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

The stones had to have heard the gospel in order to cry out.

Yes, I am trying to be funny but for any of you that were not brought up in a believing household, how did you come to hear the gospel of repentance first?

Here a day after our first Questions for Mark study this devotional question was asked. “How might you help prepare those around you to encounter Jesus? Ask God for an opportunity today.”

As in John’s day people are busy going about their worldly interests. There will be something that will peak their curiosity and it doesn’t have to be as drastic as John’s appearance and behavior. It does however have to present an opportunity which isn’t in line with their normal routine.

Romans 12:2a And be not conformed to this world:

It starts with not looking like everyone else. You should present an alternative look. Someone will notice and say; “You don’t see that every day!”

Isaiah 1:11-12 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

Who indeed has asked anything of you?

It was not that long ago I said that all things must be done to glorify God. This is our calling. It is not enough to know the will of God, not for one who knows God intimately. How to enact His will is essential in glorifying God. The essence of an emissary of our Lord is to represent Him in a way that leaves no doubt as to whom we serve.

Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of (anything), intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

As we enter into this season of bible study and seeking answers, let us remember to glorify God in how we speak to one another, how we answer one another and especially how we receive one another.

We will be seen as His if we have love one for another.