Pastor Ken
The Bible says before Jesus’s public ministry, John the Baptist preached in the area of the Jordan River and urged people to repent and be baptized. By undergoing baptism, a symbolic purification of sins, individuals committed to leading a life of holiness once more. Many in the crowd were moved and wanted to repent. They asked John, “What should we do?” John answered, “Whoever has two garments, let him give it to the one who has none; and whoever has food must do the same.” He said to the tax collectors, “Do not take more than the legal amount,” and to the soldiers, “Do not commit violence or extort money.”
What would happen if John were with us today? Perhaps he would say to a truck driver, “Don’t risk speeding, and be concerned about road safety.” To a teacher, “Prepare lessons carefully and treat all students fairly.” To a government official, “Put public interests first and stay away from corruption. Don’t just care about your own political party.” John the Baptist would caution each of us and direct our attention toward the particular aspects of our actions where we are more prone to err. It becomes imperative for us to identify those areas in our lives where we might defy God’s intentions.
We may not be the ones who intend to sin. Sin constantly tempts us and causes us to fall. Lord John Acton, a famous British historian and politician in the 19th century, once said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This phenomenon is so common in human history. After enduring insufferable tyranny, a commoner emerged as a leader of a rebellion. However, upon ascending to the throne, this person succumbed to the allure of power and began to oppress his own people, embodying the very tyranny he had fought against. Thus, the cycle of power transformed the once-oppressed individual into the new oppressor.
Although well-versed in the law, succumbing to the temptation of breaching it is a challenge that numerous individuals in the judicial and executive branches of government may encounter. They know the loopholes in the law and how to take advantage of them. their initial objective may be to champion justice and safeguard the underprivileged. But eventually, their insatiable greed drives them to commit wrongful deeds.
Professional ethics are ingrained in nearly every occupation, often encompassing both explicit and implicit standards. Merely relying on supervision as a means of upholding them is insufficient. It is a matter of personal discipline. How to learn self-discipline? I am relatively pessimistic about human nature, and relying on self-control is tough. Changes must be made through external power, such as the Holy Spirit in Christianity. The Holy Spirit not only reminds us Christians to “live a life worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1.10) but also makes us feel proud of our status as God’s children. We like to walk in the light and are happy when we please God.
John the Baptist clearly told the crowd what they should do. Jesus went a step further and sent the Holy Spirit to live in every believer’s heart, giving us the power to fight against sin. Today, we can turn from evil to good precisely because of the help of the Holy Spirit.
