UNDERSTANDING GOD’S COMPARISON

And it will be, like people, like priest.  Hosea 4:9

    I can understand God’s words another way.  “As the people go, so go the priests.”  We can often expect the pastors and people in ministry to be holier than we are, even to be holy for us, instead of us.  But since our religious leaders arise from among us, if we are lukewarm, then it stands to reason that many lukewarm men and women will seek to become our religious leaders.  An infected society affects the purity of the church.  We can find ourselves in a passive church and not even understand, for a while, that there is anything wrong.

Ah, but once in a while there are exceptions.  A Christian leader can arise out of obscurity, untainted by the world.  Though he was raised in our times, God cupped His hands around his spirit and preserved his conscience.  He may have tasted of this world, even sinned in a big way, but once he met Jesus, he only had eyes for the Savior.  He immediately saw the disparity between this world and the kingdom where Jesus reigns.  There was no turning back, no willingness to compromise.  Once he heard the compelling voice of Jesus say, “Come, follow me!” everything else faded in significance.

This kind of man or woman is heaven’s magnet, attracting those who hunger for God and repelling those who hate the Light.  Their brilliant witness is like that of Jesus.  His words did one of two things; entered the heart of the listener and created a disciple or penetrated the environment, bringing a sword instead of peace. Most hated Him from the outset.

I can often think that a true messenger of God will be nice, well respected in town, well-liked by most everyone.  But actually, that may be a warning sign.  Jesus did not blend in with His contemporaries.  He was distinctive.  He loved well, and was well loved by those who recognized Him.  But, He was also confrontational and was despised by those who fell under the conviction of His words.  May we pray for our spiritual leaders, that in our post-Christian era, they will be as Jesus described John the Baptist.  “John was like a lamp, burning and shining.”  Jn. 5:35

To follow You, Lord, is to be salty.  Make me a true disciple in every way.  Amen