John the Baptist Imprisoned

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Mark 6:17-20

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12

In this story we see someone who wants to know the truth and he turns on the truth and tries to destroy it. King Herod liked John the Baptist and thought that John was a just and holy man. He even accepted him as a type of sponsor to listen to and to cooperate with on spiritual/recovery matters. But like many people in recovery the sponsor hits on a cord that is painful and that person who is doing something wrong is sensitive to it. In this case John confronts Herod on taking his brother’s wife for himself, and tells Herod that it is against the law of God. Herod took John and had him put into prison. But Herod’s wife Herodius, wanted John dead thinking that this would free Herod, and herself, to have a better time and to free them from guilt. But once you start down a wrong train of thought terrible things can happen unless you stop and accept the truth and then be willing to accept the inventory and are willing to do right above all other things.

Prayer for Today: God, You know how easy it is to slide into doing something you did not intend to do. Help us to talk to You about these things and when You respond, help us to take Your feedback and come into harmony with You. Protect us from ourselves and our addictive thinking for it can get pretty bad in our own minds.