Daily Devotional, Year 3 – February 20 (Flee To The Mountains, Part 12: “How To Be Like John the Baptist: Simplicity”)

By admin On February 10th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – February 20

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Flee To The Mountains,

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Part 12:

“How To Be Like John the Baptist: Simplicity”

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THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF YESTERDAY’S ARTICLE ON “HOW TO BE MORE LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST”

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Now one of the most interesting of all Bible heroes was John the Baptist.

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Living away from society in the desert, while thriving on, and even enjoying an extremely self-denying lifestyle was a standing rebuke to the licentious lifestyles of God’s professed people of that day.

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John the Baptist by Harold Copping – www.wikigallery.com – US public domain

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JOHN’S REJECTION OF SOCIETY

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And isn’t it true, that we all admire John the Baptist for his complete and utter disregard for all the creature-comforts which we take for granted, today?

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Nevertheless, most of us are not able to emulate the life of John, if for no other reason than it is now mostly against the law to merely live out on the desert.

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And let’s face it! Not too many of us could live on a diet of locusts and wild honey!

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John the Baptist by J. Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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“EXAMINE YOURSELVES!”

2nd Corinthians 13:5

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But in the interest of overcoming the world, the flesh, and the Devil, let’s take a moment to examine the life of John.

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Let’s see if we can’t implement some of John’s lifestyle, in hopes of getting the final victory over sin and selfishness.

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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JOHN’S SIMPLE LIFESTYLE

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One of the most noticeable aspects of John’s life, was the simplicity in which he chose to dwell.

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Yes, just like his cousin, Jesus, John also lived with no possessions but the clothes on his back!

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John the Baptist by J. Tissot – Wikimedia Commons – US Public Domain

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PAUL’S AUSTERE LIFE

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Listen to scripture… “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1st Timothy 6:7-9

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Here above, Paul is exhorting Believers to not complicate their lives by accumulating an abundance of earthly Mammon (riches & possessions). And Paul was a sterling example of what he himself preached.

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Like John the Baptist, Paul likewise had forsaken earthly possessions, except for the clothes on his back, and perhaps a few tent-making tools-of-his-trade.

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Paul Tentmaking – La Vista Church of Christ – Creative Commons License

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MORE SIMPLICITY

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Now this website is not recommending that anyone goes to the same extreme as Paul and John the Baptist, or even the Apostle, John.

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And yet, those of us in this over-complicated and materialistic society might find that by simplifying our lives will be a great blessing in a number of ways.

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Time – New York City Night-lights – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons 2.0 Generic License

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PURIFYING OUR THOUGHTS

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First, it might free us up from our many earthly commitments which crowd our minds with worldly thoughts and cares, and instead fill our minds with the Words of Life, the Bible.

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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MORE TIME FOR HEAVEN

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Second, by living a simpler life, we might find that we have more time for things which are of an eternal nature.

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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A HAPPIER EXISTENCE

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Listen…“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Proverbs 5:12

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Here above is a principle of life that puts an exclamation mark on what has been tossed about today.

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Yes, simplicity is more conducive to a life of peace.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

Exclamation Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO BE CONTINUED IN TOMORROW’S DEVOTIONAL

John the Baptist by Harold Copping www.wikigallery.com US public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to simplify my life as far as possible. But let me not force the consciences of my family members who may not agree with what I want to do…

The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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NARROW GATE

The Strait Gate is the Narrow Way and the broad way is the Wide Gate

This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to below left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch to right).

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The R eaper”.)

Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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TOMORROW…

February 21 (Flee To The Mountains, Part 13: “How To Be Like John the Baptist: Separation?”)