J.A. Matteson
A servant of Jesus Christ is faithful to cast the light of truth in dark places, motivated by love of his neighbor, delivered with an earnest desire that he not miss heaven by coming under divine judgment. "It is not lawful for you to...." (Mk. 6:18). Cultural norms and laws change, societal values void of the law of God reflect the depraved fallen nature of humanity. This is increasingly so as a society turns its back on Jesus Christ. The king was brazen in his sin of adultery, John was faithful to the LORD to call him out on it; not with a spirit of meanness, but of genuine love for his neighbor, knowing the severity of God's wrath toward lawlessness upon those who remain unrepentant. The tenor of John's rebuke was caring, but firm. Sin blinds moral perception and clouds mental decision making. A servant of Jesus Christ must first make sure his own eye is clear, check his motives before the LORD to ensure that malice and hatred of the sin is not projected upon the sinner. Only then can he be used of God effectively to bring the light of the gospel into another persons life. In response the darkness generally seeks to extinguish the light, employing any means to silence the voice of truth. The winds of carnality howl against the wick of righteousness; faithful servants of Jesus Christ, knowing of the dreadful day of the wrath of God that will visit the unrepentant, persist in their preaching of the King and His kingdom. The salve they apply is done gently, in a spirit of humility, confessing that but for the grace of God they too would be in danger of judgement.
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