Strange but True Treasures – SHAPED BY FAITH

In Matthew 3:4-6 from The Message, we learn about John the Baptist. “John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.”

Evidently the writer Matthew, along with many other people, saw John as an eccentric kind of fellow. I don’t believe he tells us about John’s clothes and diet randomly, he’s making a point. Actually he seems to be emphasizing the point by then acknowledging the great number of people confessing their sin and being baptized. Though living in the wilderness, he knelt at the throne of God and this made him sought after by the people.

John the Baptist may have seemed quirky or strange, but he stood up for the truth, in fact, every cell in his being walked in rhythm with God’s calling on his life. Because he was in God’s calling, John became a magnet to the masses, but took no credit and instead pointed to Jesus the Messiah. He lived with boldness and confidence knowing who he was in Christ. While seemingly a rebel to the normalcies of this world, Jesus called John the greatest of all men.

In Matthew’s brief account of John the Baptist we find a treasure hidden in plain sight. If we fast forward to the twenty first century John would be identified as a wilderness man in tune with nature. He would be a man who made his own clothes and believed his special diet would be healthier than all the foods in the market. People would be drawn to him and the media would probably offer him his own reality show. People wouldn’t  be drawn to him because he can prepare locusts thirty- two different ways, it would be because he knows Jesus. He would turn down the reality show because he is still a man under the influence of God and the calling on his life.

Many of us could be called quirky or eccentric, possibly even different or strange. As a matter of fact, after posting some Shaped by Faith Tips of the Day on Facebook, some of those names might have been used to describe me. The tips are used as reminders to keep fit and think about God in our daily walk. Some of these tips display an effervescent side of my personality as a way to motivate and encourage people to be excited about God and staying in shape for His work. This is sharing the treasure and the way I use what I do to point people to Jesus.

Many of you use your special gifts to point people to Jesus. You recognize the treasure and share Jesus with everyone. Naturally the easiest way to lead people to Jesus would be to uncover the treasure with your circle of friends at work, but what about with your golfing buddies, fellow classic car enthusiasts or coffee shop friends. There are as many different hobbies, groups or ways to share Jesus as there are people anxious to hear about the hope for the world. I came to know Jesus when a student in my class went out of her way to share the treasure. Actually, I initially thought she was a little over the top, maybe even strange, but now I thank God for her perseverance.

If you are an extrovert and love chatting with people, take the opportunity to share what Jesus has done for you. If you are an introvert and can point people to Jesus through a book or while you write then do it. We are here on the earth to point people to Jesus and there are many unique opportunities available on a daily basis. Paul could be talking about this time in history in Ephesians 5:16, “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.” It is time to share the treasure with the world!