“…for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.”
Mark 6

Three Things

• 1) Sentimentality and faddish spiritual interests are NOT Saving Religion. Saving religion produces the fruit of righteousness.
• 2) Pick your friends and spouse carefully for their influence will point you either to heaven or hell, and worst case scenario, may have you chopping off the head of a man who loves you enough to tell you the truth about your sin. At a minimum you will castigate him to absolve your rejection of his truth and silence the fools about you.
• 3) A troubled conscience can become a seared callousness with serial resistance to the Holy Spirit. There is often an ill-defined point of despising revelation and privilege, and subsequently giving up rights afforded in the gospel. Reference Esau and the despised birthright for a bowl of stew. Remorseful repentance was greeted with tearful rejection.  

Remember, Herod (I believe) was the great grandson of Herod the Great who murdered the innocent children of Bethlehem as he made an attempt on the life of The Baby, so please note the undeserved, yet spurned opportunities to respond to grace and truth offered in John’s preaching. Some years later Jesus afforded no hope, and not even one word as He stood before Herod.

What are you bargaining for? A provocative dance by a hooker, a roll in the hay, or just trying to placate that one whispering in your ear. Don’t miss, don’t neglect that voice of reason and truth that nudges you to Calvary today. Today is what?

 “Today is the Day of Salvation.”
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this applies to everyone…”
The Preacher