"Witness of John"

 "Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness of the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but things things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." (John 5:33-35 KJV)

  "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)

 There are some serious things that cause us to take our minds off of, what Paul calls, our real life; but, if truth be told, that life, as Paul says, is hidden with Christ in God! I know we sometimes forget that is the truth, because we mess up and feel devastated by some of the thing we let come out of our mouth. If it only could be taken back here on earth, as it is in heaven! 

 Maybe I should stay on track, and stop being worried about my own stupid mistakes. This is not just a little snippet on John's testimony; this is a brief example of what it might look like to speak to the worldly side of spiritual leadership. Basically, Jesus is showing them, and us, what it is like to view someone that is being guided by the Spirit of God, placing them in a category outside of what they really where and are.

 Okay, so it makes better sense if I take this down into a human perspective; say like, a used car salesman, and what it might be to examine who they really are, based upon what they are known for being. I do have a little experience in this, as I worked for a season of my life for a used car broker. If you are not familiar with what that is: this is the guy that goes to the auction and finds the cars he believes that certain used care dealerships will want and can sell. 

 Yes, it is a step up from a used car salesman; as he is the one that sells to the salesmen that will be selling to the public. That said, it is a practical way that we can witness John the Baptist, in the eyes of these Jewish leaders. In a nutshell, the broker has clients he works to empress; he does this by getting them the best car that he can for their buck. They in turn, will turn a profit, hopefully, because the car that was sold to them has greater value than what they paid for it. 

 In the long-short version of this synopsis, if the car doesn't move off of their lot, they either will sell it to another dealership, or they will drastically lower the price to move the inventory; making room for something that will actually make them money. All the while, the broker does what he can to help them facilitate moving a lemon off their lot; usually, included with a deal on something better. 

 Don't quite see how that works towards this story? I guess that might be because you don't see who it is that are the brokers. When spiritual leaders start being concerned about the concerns of men, verses the concerns of God, they really try harder to please man then they will do to please God. If it helps any, this is not really the intention, or what they set out to do; but more a matter of what they are forced to do, because of their concern for future deals and prospects. 

 Yes, I know, it points to the human side of spiritual leaders; but in reality, it is just life! The clue to all of this is a statement Jesus makes, saying, "but these things I say, that ye might be saved." If those who are lead by God don't lend to that which you are selling, then you will not pay them the attention that they deserve. In the process of making a choice to cut them off, you are in reality cutting off the truth, and the message of God. 

 It is really not all that complicated; we just make it so, so that we can shrug it off and move on; which, in the brokers world, it is called: Turning the page...

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites." (Colossians 3:23-25 NLT)