She added murder to her to-do list.

Friday   10-30-15  Home in Modesto

Scripture reading:    Job 21    Mark 5-6

S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Mark 6:20  ...Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. NLT

O.  John the Baptist had been arrested and was apparently already in prison when King Herod would call for him to come entertain him with his powerful preaching.  But John was not one to beat-around-the-bush.  He went to the heart of the issue.  “Herod, it is illegal and sinful to take Herodias, your brother’s wife.”  Herod took the hit and laughed it off, but Herodias was listening and added murder to her to-do list.

A.  Governor Felix often called for his prisoner, the Apostle Paul, to hear him.   Apparently we preachers make good entertainment for some bored leaders.  But when Paul’s message touched his sinful soul, Felix would order him back into prison.  And when John the Baptist’s preaching touched his illegal woman... sparks began to fly.  It cost him his head. 

What am I learning from this?  Preaching the blunt truth can be dangerous?  Yes.  And you might be able to get by criticizing the man at the top, but don’t touch his woman!

P.  Lord Jesus, I admit that I don’t feel called to publicly reveal a list of the sins of my high ranking leaders.  Down deep in our hearts most of us already know we are sinners without parading our dirty linens in public.  However, in recent years it has become popular to openly boast about one’s sinful life style... and encourage young people to try it.  What a wicked world!  John the Baptist’s message spoke to sinful issues of his day, but he preached a way out through true repentance openly expressed by water baptism.  Jesus, Your Gospel breaks the chains of sin, offering forgiveness and cleansing... a new beginning to unworthy sinners through Your completed work on the cross and Your resurrection.  May You always be the heart of my message to a lost world!  Amen.

Ralph