Word@Work 071 - Mark 6:21-24
Published: Wed, 02/27/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 6:21-24 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. (NIV)
The sinful nature is very cunning. It not only nurtures a desire to do wrong, but it waits for an ideal opportunity to do it. The evil heart-radar of those who ignore God, spots its chance and then blindly seizes it. It does so, because the sinful heart does not want to see anything outside of itself; it operates in the dark and is intensely resistant to the light of truth.
Herod's pompous banquet and the lavish promise to his wife's daughter, set the stage for John's murder. All was apparently innocent, but the underground river of hate caused rapid moral subsidence in the palace. Pride, arrogance, the buying of affection with impossible promises - along with fleshly passion and hatred of God's Word and prophet, were the fruit of demonically inspired, fleshly natures. Any one of them could unleash evil: together they proved lethal. How tragic it is, when people know the truth but refuse to act on it.
Herod had not submitted to the truth John brought to him: instead, he thought he could contain his wife's violent wish. To be interested in the gospel is not enough: God commands everybody to repent! Never underestimate the power of sin in 'nice' people. The gospel is not intended to make people nice, but to save them from their sin. And this passage underlines the need to be saved - however important they think they are. John the Baptist was not afraid to point it out. Are you?
Prayer: Dear Lord God. It has been important for me to see, again, the consequences of not dealing with sin at an early stage. Show me what I need to do, so that I can be 'in the right' with you; and give me the courage to be straight with my colleagues about your call to repentance. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The sinful nature is very cunning. It not only nurtures a desire to do wrong, but it waits for an ideal opportunity to do it. The evil heart-radar of those who ignore God, spots its chance and then blindly seizes it. It does so, because the sinful heart does not want to see anything outside of itself; it operates in the dark and is intensely resistant to the light of truth.
Herod's pompous banquet and the lavish promise to his wife's daughter, set the stage for John's murder. All was apparently innocent, but the underground river of hate caused rapid moral subsidence in the palace. Pride, arrogance, the buying of affection with impossible promises - along with fleshly passion and hatred of God's Word and prophet, were the fruit of demonically inspired, fleshly natures. Any one of them could unleash evil: together they proved lethal. How tragic it is, when people know the truth but refuse to act on it.
Herod had not submitted to the truth John brought to him: instead, he thought he could contain his wife's violent wish. To be interested in the gospel is not enough: God commands everybody to repent! Never underestimate the power of sin in 'nice' people. The gospel is not intended to make people nice, but to save them from their sin. And this passage underlines the need to be saved - however important they think they are. John the Baptist was not afraid to point it out. Are you?
Prayer: Dear Lord God. It has been important for me to see, again, the consequences of not dealing with sin at an early stage. Show me what I need to do, so that I can be 'in the right' with you; and give me the courage to be straight with my colleagues about your call to repentance. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
W@W071 | Word@Work 2008 © Dr Paul Adams | Provided by BeaconLight
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