The Gospel of Luke 7:33 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.” (Luke 7:33 KJV).

The environment during the time of the Lord's human form here on earth was the conflagration of varying religious and social beliefs. It is mirrored by the same climate the world we are in, with the same complex web of beliefs following doctrines and precepts of men as with the religious Jews during the time of the Lord's physical ministry. The religious Pharisees and priests are busy building kingdoms of religion like what we can observe in this present time we are in. When John the Baptist came to bring the message of repentance into this world, and with the message of grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17), the religious establishments vehemently resist to protect their business enterprises (John 11:50).

John the Baptist, the harbinger for the Lord Jesus, and the Lord Jesus Himself came with contrasting approach to accomplish their intertwined mission. John the Baptist came with an ascetic lifestyle, eating locusts and wild honey, and abstaining from wine. In contrast, the Lord Jesus was more open to partaking in banquets and wine, and He associated with a wide range of people, including tax collectors and "sinners". The crowd accused John of having a devil. And the Lord was called a glutton and a winebibber (Matthew 11:19).

The religious beliefs of many failed them to recognize the harbinger and the One ushered in. This passage is a stir up call for those who allow themselves to be deceived by religion and refused to live in the grace of God. They kept asking for a sign (Matthew 16:1) when both John the Baptist and the Lord had been there present in the flesh with signs and wonders of heavenly seal. It's their time to be saved if only they come to the presence of the Lord, believing.

And, for those of us who are made children of God by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we are reminded to stand strong. We are expected to remain discerning to see the signs and miracles the Lord Jesus displayed for us to see who He is. Otherwise, for those asking more signs, the only sign you ought to hone in is the sign of the prophet Jonah (Jonah 1:17), pointing to the Lord's rising from the dead. The Lord said: “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” (Matthew 16:3-4 KJV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

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