Our daily reading plan has taken us to the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry preparing the way for Jesus. John was a simple man. As scripture says his clothing was of camel hair and he wore a leather belt.

John’s ministry was not in one building. In fact, his ministry began in the wilderness. Luke 3 puts it this way, “the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” The word of God arrived while John was in the wilderness.

Living in the wilderness was not the same as our camping. The wilderness in Israel was incredibly diverse. Mainly dusty desert and gorges, John would have had no option but to live simply.

I wonder if John’s simple life was part of the reason God chose him. He had no family, job, house, or car influencing his decisions. He simply lived for God. We all can learn a lesson or two from John’s simple life.

God isn’t always asking us for something extravagant. Your prayers don’t need to be perfect. Your time reading scripture doesn’t need to be at a ph.d level. Your worship doesn’t require a Grammy level band. John’s story reminds us that all God wants is you. Are you ready to give yourself to god?

PM