26 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
27 “This is the one about whom it is written,
‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’
28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:24-28.
It is interesting to me that Jesus waited until the messengers of John had left, before He began to speak to the crowds about John. One could think that Jesus would have wanted to give such complements about John in front of these messengers.
But, I think Jesus often deals with us the same way. We may want such complements, but Jesus is often stern with us, telling us, in effect, to get back to work. Jesus will encourage us as is best for us, but He does not want the motivation for our works to primarily be praise from man.
In yesterday’s devotion, Jesus’ answer to the messengers of John seems rather stern. “When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'” … And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” Luke 7:20-23.
As a baby-boomer with parents and friends of parents in “the greatest generation”, I often was surprised at how stern they were to me and their other children. I knew that they loved us, and they would encourage us. But, it was not as much or as often as we may have wanted. However, I learned over time that it was for our good, intentional or not. (They may have felt that they were more lenient and more loving than their parents.) They did not want us to be soft, self-absorbed, and dependent on the praises of man for our motivation to act righteously and faithfully.
One Scripture that help me get through my youth, and even now, is Lamentations 3:27:
“It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.”
Here is the context.
“25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.” Lamentations 3:25-29.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 