He did What he Could
John the Baptist didn't have any great talents. He didn't perform mystifying
miracles (not even a simple card trick). He wasn't a handsome crooner with a
voice like Perry Como's. He didn't have degrees or diplomas. He didn't have
an impressive gift of speaking like Billy Graham. He wasn't popular, since
he offended people by calling them such names as vipers and white washed
tombs. John was not a snappy dresser. He made his clothes from camel's hair.
He was just a common man, a scruffy sort of guy with strange eating habits
(locusts). He didn't have a job. He just wandered around talking to folks.
He wasn't better, smarter, richer or any other "er." He was just a guy who
told people about what he knew: "One mightier than I is coming."
(Matthew
3:11) Do you ever wish you had a great talent to use for God and mankind? If
you were a gifted surgeon, you could save lives. If you had a beautiful
voice, you could sing about God's love around the world. If you were a good
speaker, you could preach to millions.
Most of us, like John the Baptist, are pretty ordinary. Yet Jesus said of
John "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist." Wow, an ordinary guy (sort of strange, actually) was a
great prophet. John did the best he could with the talents he had and it was
enough. In fact, it was great. "John did no miracle: but all things that
John spoke of were true. And many believed on him there." (John 10:41-42).
John prepared the way for the Lord by telling the truth and leading people
to Jesus.
I believe it was Mother Theresa who said, "There are no great deeds, only
small deeds done with great love." Like John, we ordinary people can do
whatever God has enabled us to do; and when we do it in love for Him, we can
give Him no greater gift.
Marsha Jordan