Pushing Past Temporary Pleasures and Insufficient Securities
By Dawn Tolbert
“John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” Mark 1:6
I wonder if I sometimes have more faith in online shopping and credit lines than I do in God.
Lately my social media feed has been filled with ads for subscription-based programs offering to ship boxes filled with clothes picked out for me by a designer. I can also order ready-to-cook food with menus created by teams of expert chefs.
Just a few clicks, and whatever I want will soon be waiting at my front door.
Those ads popped into my head as I read Mark’s description of John the Baptist. God had called John for a special purpose: preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry.
John didn’t shop in Israel’s best stores or eat in fine dining establishments. Instead, he wore camel’s hair clothes, accessorized with a simple leather belt. His menu consisted of things he could find easily in the desert—bugs and honey.
At first, we might think John was odd, but his simple lifestyle tells us something important about him. He trusted God to provide for him.
We have tons of items at our fingertips. Stores stay open all night or offer free two-day shipping; yet contentment eludes us.
Ordering more things won’t fill our longing inside. Instead, we need a relationship with the Savior that God custom-designed to bring hope and to deliver us from our sin.
Let’s ask Jesus today to meet our needs. When we trust Him, we’ll find He’s much better than the highest fashion or even the most scrumptious meal.
Dawn Tolbert is a contributor to Wholly Loved Ministries Daily Devotional, a Christ-follower who writes to honor God, thank Him for His goodness, and encourage readers by sharing her faith journey. She works in higher education public relations and is writing her first novel and her first book-length Bible study. She has earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and English (Gardner-Webb College), a M.A. in Professional Writing (Kennesaw State University), and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership (Union University). She and her husband, Larry, live in Cedartown, Georgia, and serve actively in their church. Dawn blogs at dawntolbert.com.
Visit WhollyLoved.com for more inspirational messages or to book them for your next women's event