Scripture - Luke 3:7-14 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,"Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 So the people asked him, saying,"What shall we do then?" 11 He answered and said to them,"He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them,"Collect no more than what is appointed for you." 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."
Observation - John is paving the way here for Christ. He is the front runner and preacher to the nation and telling people that Christ is on the way but you have an opportunity now to change your life. To live according to repentance for salvation is at hand. John was "A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord". He was speaking to all that were gathered there and gave them instruction for living. I think it is so profound - the fact that not only did John offer them salvation through Jesus, he also told them how to live it out. He said "produce fruit in keeping with repentance". In other words - act like you are saved. Act like you have a relationship with Jesus. Act like there is something greater than you working in your life. John didn't leave them at the altar but gave them something to function in their life with. John gave them instructions on how to change, how to exemplify Christ. They asked him - So what do we do now - and John had an answer. He instructed each of then how to impact their community.
Application - I believe the key to changing the world for Jesus is all of us that walking with him to employ the concepts that John is speaking of here. He tells the man with two tunics to share one of them, he tells the tax collector to stop cheating, he told he soldiers to be content with their pay. He told them all to bear fruit in keeping with repentance by changing how you relate to those around you. I have met so many people that have a relationship with Jesus and you couldn't tell it by talking to them. You couldn't identify any change in their life or any difference in the way they act. I am telling you we have the best kept secret on the planet. We have Jesus Christ! We need to begin sharing with one another, building up one another, loving one another and telling one another about the greatest message in the world. I live in a community with many needs. Probably not uncommon across the country. The people of God sharing their tunic, being honest in their work and being content with who they are can change the entire community around us. We need to start producing fruit in keeping with repentance.
Prayer - Father thank you for the word today. I need to continue to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Fruit that shows the world who I am in You. Father your will is that none should perish but come to repentance. Help me to be a front runner in showing the way.
