Luke Chapter 7: Verses 29-35 (NLT)
When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.“To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them?They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t weep.’
For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
Just because John the Baptist didn’t act, dress or behave like other religious leaders didn’t mean that he was not powerfully used of God to speak to lives who were subsequently changed. We all have a conscience. The people who had allowed God to speak to them through their conscience and the words of John, acknowledged that John had preached the truth. Others criticised him for the way that he lived. But they also criticised Jesus for the way that he lived and taught. He didn’t live according to the expectations of many. Jesus realised that we will never please everyone, no matter who we are. And that’s the same today. Some people have an expectation of how Christians should behave, even if they themselves would not claim to live a Christian life. Sometimes its these people who will point the finger at Christians. Sadly too, there can be finger pointing between denominations, which is not how things should be.
Jesus Himself said that wisdom is proved right by those who follow it. In other words, we should focus on following what Jesus says and be obedient to what God wants us to do. If we do that then in that way our actions will speak louder than our words and we will be recognised as true followers of God, even if we don’t match up to the expectations of others. If Jesus didn’t please everyone, then neither will we. Its far more important to do what we know to be right and to please God.
Dear Lord,
Help me to keep my focus on doing what is right in Your eyes, even if it doesn’t please anyone else. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.