Our Look


Mat 3:2  His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: 

	"Change your life. God's kingdom is here." 

Mat 3:3  John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy: Thunder in 

	the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! 

Mat 3:4  John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather 

	strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. 

Mat 3:5  People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to 

	hear and see him in action. 

Mat 3:6  There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were 

	baptized into a changed life. 



	When he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, his immediate 

response was a fireman. Could it have something to do with the cool clothes he'd 

get to wear?

	I was watching one of the NBA playoff games yesterday and recognized a 

former player that was working as a commentator. Although I did identify him 

right away, it just seemed rather odd to see him for the first time in a suit 

and tie rather than a basketball uniform, running up and down the court. 

	Sometimes, when I go out to the mall or the building supply, I run into 

someone who attends the church in which we have served. I can tell by the 

puzzled look on their face that they're trying to determine who I really am. If 

I just had on my suit instead of the sneakers, jeans, tee shirt and ball cap it 

wouldn't be such a difficult task. 

	For every occupation and role in life there are certain expectations that 

have to do with our appearance and conduct. Our ability to conform to these 

expectations has a lot to do with the level of success we might anticipate. 

There is appropriate attire for those in business or sales that will gain 

respect and provide an impression that will make way for their positive 

reception. While in the office setting it may require a more formal dress, the 

suit and tie might gain only a smirk in construction or farm setting. With a 

purpose of fitting in or being accepted and effective in whatever group we 

desire to influence, there will definitely be a set of appearance and conduct 

guidelines to which we must conform. 

	Arriving in the world of this new life we have in Christ we come into a 

set of stereotypes and expectations to which we are made to feel we must 

conform. Though we were drawn into this new realm by something that transcended 

appearances and went to the very interior depths of our heart, we can be made to 

feel that what is most important is the presentation of what is seen on our 

exterior. In order to successfully communicate this new life that is ours in 

Christ we feel that we must first look and act a certain way that we've seen 

portrayed in those we would emulate. (If only we could see them with their ball 

cap on.) We might feel that we must be able to present all the scripture to 

support why we believe what we do before anything can be said. It can be so 

difficult to even see ourselves as an appropriate representative of Christ 

according to our appearance or conduct that we never present to anyone the part 

that really looks like him- our heart. 

	I wonder where John the Baptist got his instruction on how he should 

structure the look, location and content of his ministry. It's hard to imagine 

that he was following any guidelines found in faithful study at the temple. If 

you were told that you would be meeting the man who was preparing the way for 

the King of kings and Lord of lords, your expectations might not have been 

satisfied in any way upon your introduction to John. Yet, there was something 

about his heart that would have probably overcome your first impression and 

caused you to not only accept him for who he was, but to actually become a part 

of his preparation for the King by being baptized. John wasn't held back by his 

appearance from speaking his simple message with power and boldness. In fact, it 

was probably the honesty of his presentation that won the hearts of so many to 

receive his message and repent.

	Which groups of people are left out; how many neighbors have never heard; 

and through how many of us has Christ never been seen or heard because we feel 

we don't quite have the right look or sound? Or maybe it is that in our trying 

to conform to some criteria, there are certain ones that will never be 

influenced by the look and sound that is uniquely ours in Christ. In our pursuit 

of the purpose that is ours in the kingdom, those that have gone before and the 

lessons they have learned will definitely affect us. But, there is waiting for 

each one of us a "look" that is ours alone. This "look" is ours to be found as 

we remain in an atmosphere of worship, with our eyes fixed on Him alone and our 

meditations on His Word. Abiding in this place our passions and desires will 

become more like His and our driving motive will be the change that takes place 

in lives rather than the success that is written above our door. Not subject to 

the restrictions of man's definitions we can discover the wonder of His 

adventure for our lives as our true purpose is fulfilled in Him. Instead of 

waiting till we look the part, we can know the part that we are made to be in 

Him, showing Christ without hesitation. 

	In the businessman at the office, in the housewife in the neighborhood, in 

the basketball player on the court, in the construction worker on the job site, 

and in every person who allows Christ to be formed in them, there is a "look" 

that will reveal to their world who He really is and His message of love and 

forgiveness. In boldly portraying His image and heart, they will, like John, be 

a part of preparing the way of the King.



5/05/04