Matthew 3:4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Happy Happiest of New Year’s to you Rose Buddy! We have crossed over to year 2023 and are definitely grateful to declare that it was all God Who has made this possible. Last week, my fiance shared a very fascinating revelation with me. In regards to John the Baptist, he stunningly chose to eat locust and honey. When I would hear this preached in sermons, I never thought about that being his decision. Even in my own study time, that never occurred to me that this was something John decided to eat. There are no verses that indicate that he was forced to eat that just because of his environment. Yes, he was declaring the kingdom of God in the wilderness. However, that does not mean all that was to his disposal was an insect and honey. This is something we too can apply to our own lives. That we do not have to live subject to our environment. Just because people assume a way of life for you does not mean you have to pursue that. Black girl luxury has been plastered across every social media app while in a pandemic and scarcely coming out of it. This trend alone can have people think that they need to spend an excessive amount of money in order to be accepted in today’s society. As Christians, we should not allow the world to depict how we live our lives. Especially, when we have detailed, life altering, instructions found in God’s Word.

Giving this text a closer look, it is actually quite symbolic to me that John chose to eat locust. Locusts are normally perceived as harmful because too many of them can cause a plague in the land that it consumes. Here is the great, John the Baptist, preaching to all about repentance because of the sin that is in the world while choosing to devour locust as his preferred cuisine. He is making people aware about the disease of sin while devouring an insect that can spread disease. John is paving the way for the answer to man’s sin. Meanwhile, Jesus has freed us from the plague of sin in the earth! Even with coupling the locust with honey was symbolic to me as well. Here you have something that would be looked at as grotesque being topped or dipped in something sweet. The monstrosity that is sin is being covered by the sweetness of Jesus’ Blood. The ailment of sin has now been devoured and the sweetest part that comes with it is salvation – an eternity in Heaven! I do not know if his meal was intentional or not. What I do know is that The Word of God is living and with that comes many revelations from the same scripture breathed by the unction of God’s Spirit.

Another thing that stuck out to me was that John the Baptist was content. He was not swayed by worldly customs or traditions. John mirrored what it was truly like to be satisfied in Christ, alone. Even now, we will not find too many christians willing to live in the wilderness declaring the kingdom of God and repentance. We barely do it in our oh so convenient and comfortable every day lives. Always finding an excuse as to why we are not regularly sharing the Gospel. John the Baptist sacrificed much to gain much in the Heavenly Providence. He realized that true comfort was in the will of God and not the customs of man. Not saying it was easy to live the way that he did, but it was a true benefit to do the work He was called to do. We figuratively call seasons in our lives the “wilderness” not understanding that people actually lived this for the glory of God. Honestly, we have it much easier than our brothers and sisters we read about in God’s Word. Moreover, there are saints living with the bare minimum even now overseas being separated from family and still giving God there all in ministry. Sorry to report, but we all have a ministry as children of God and that starts and ends with us spreading God’s Word. However that may look will be different but the calling is the same.

I know we want to start the new year off checking our habit trackers, losing weight, and learning to save more money. What the world declares is for our well-being is completely different from God. Money doesn’t equate to living well. Being postured at the Living Well does. We have to come to a resolve that the kingdom of God will always be the main priority. We are not making time for God we are understanding that He gave us the time we have and we are choosing to use it wisely. God is not to be scheduled in our day He is our day! He is our next breath and we are not to forsake the opportunity to share that same breath of life with someone who is suffocating in their sin. Jesus has freed us from so much and is still delivering us from things we are not even aware of which is why sharing the Gospel is so important. In this new year I challenge you to not just put God first but put Him back in His rightful place. He is our everything and there is nothing we can do without Him. I would not be able to write, think properly, speak, or move without the Help of The Lord. So, I dare not count it lightly to use the gift(s) He has given me for the glory to His Name. It is my prayer and hope that your heart feels the same.

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to see a new year. As we go through our days, please show us the error of our ways. We repent for taking our responsibility so lightly to the point of willfully watching others live in their sin. Help us to view sin as you see it. Take the blinders of familiarity off that will keep us from sharing Your Truth to those living in the lies of the world and the kingdom of darkness. We want to see Your Power rest on us, but that takes sacrifice and obedience from a humble heart for it to come alive. Lord, we love You and we want to mirror Your love to the world, it is in Jesus Name that we ask these things. Amen and thank God!