“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3
During a time of trouble, wise men will shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever, they turning many to righteousness also shall shine bright.
John the Baptist “was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. “says John 5:35 He was the forerunner and prepared the way for the Messiah — meaning (sending on before kings on their journeys, persons to level the roads and make them passable.)
“John Baptist was a priest of the order of Aaron, yet we find him preaching in a wilderness, and never officiating in the temple. The doctrine he preached was that of repentance (Matthew3:2); Consider your ways, change your minds; you have thought amiss; think again, and think aright. John as the voice, roused men, and then Christ, as the Word, taught them;” Isaiah 40 predicted his coming many years prior.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: Isaiah 40:4-5
So, what was the state of mind which John seemed to stir men toward? Perhaps summarized as meekness, another word for this mindset would be honesty.
” Meekness, in the Bible, speaks of an inward condition of the mind and heart, expressed to God first. We are meek when we do not inwardly resist God but accept whatever he does with us as good, believing that it is for our benefit. A meek person may fall, a meek person may sin, a meek person may have weaknesses, but he is meek, meaning he is honest.” Carl H. Stevens
In Psalm 76:9 God saves the meek. In Psalm 25:9, “The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way.”
Luke tells us, in 8:15 of a heart prepared to receive seed, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ” These are those whose hearts are prepared.
In Luke 9:35, on the mount of Transfiguration, “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. “
“Luke 15:1 also, “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. “
Hebrews 3:7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts …”
James chapter 1:21 speaks, “…receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
But first, “…lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,”
First discard “vile raiment.” Filthy Garment which is a metaphor for a filthy consciousness. See Zechariah chapter 3. Next, lay apart “Malice , the word denoting a malevolent disposition toward one’s neighbor.”
Engrafted? It is implanted; “divinely given, in contrast with something acquired by study.” Vincent
Beloved, a brand new believer in Christ can, “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: ” Even as ” newborn babes” 1Peter 2:2 as he lays aside “malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, God has gifted us with this ability when we were born again.
In closing, Peter understood this shining light, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2Peter 1:19
Friends, Jesus, as our example was meek and lowly of heart. In coming to Him we find the rest of a good, honest, meek heart. Matthew 11:28-30
Isaiah 61:3 teaches, ” beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” lets make the exchange! love ya
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