Luke 3 - 9.3.25
Scripture
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Luke 3:8)
Observation
John the Baptist enters the scene in Luke chapter 3. John is the promised messenger sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus. How did he prepare the way for Jesus? By preaching “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. John went around preaching “repentance” for the forgiveness of sins.
The dictionary meaning of the word repent is remorse for one’s actions accompanied with the action of turning away from it. Repentance is more than saying sorry or feeling bad about our sins. Repentance is taking a U-turn in life. It is deciding not to go back to our sinful way of living. Repentance needs to have fruit.
Our life needs to produce the fruit of repentance. The fruit of repentance is the change in lifestyle, living without compromising with sin. There are consequences if our life does not have the fruit of repentance. The tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into fire (Luke 3:9).
In the rest of the chapter, John teaches what this means in practical terms. “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same (Luke 3:11). Whoa, looks like those people who say that tithing is not in the new testament, have a valid point! The ratio of giving in the new testament is no longer 10%, but 50%! You and I cannot solve the problem of world hunger. But we can certainly give a meal to that homeless man or woman we see on the street. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). May the Lord say of us “He/She did what he/she could” (Mark 14:8).
John taught the working people of his day (tax collectors and soldiers) to be faithful in their jobs. Do not be corrupt, be content with your pay (Luke 3:13,14). All of us have a vocation, a God-given profession or a job to work and provide for our families. Let us be faithful in our calling whatever it is - in the ministry, or in business, or in corporate boardrooms, or to be a stay-at-home parent. In the epistle of Ephesians, Paul reminds employees to obey their earthly employers with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as we would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on us, but as children of God, doing the will of God from our heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if we are serving the Lord, and not people (Ephesians 6:5-7).
Application
If God sent John the Baptist with the message of repentance in order to prepare the way for Jesus, repentance is a very serious thing for God. This is so important that the verse “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (NIV) or “bear fruit worthy of repentance” (KJV) is repeated twice in the Bible (Matt 3:8, Luke 3:8).
An example of true repentance is Zacchaeus. When he encountered Jesus and had a transformation of heart, he declared, “I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8). Action to set things right always follows true repentance.
Let us examine our hearts and see if there is any secret sin in our life, which we need to repent of. If we do, let us repent and ask God to help us to live a life that glorifies Him, producing the fruit of repentance.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me the importance of producing fruit in line with repentance. Please show me where I am not doing that. Lord, my conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is You O Lord, who judges me (1 Cor 4:4). I want to be holy as you are holy (1 Peter 1:16). I cannot do this by my own strength, as without You I can do nothing (John 15:5). But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps 139:23-24). In Jesus’s name. Amen
Asha Chacko George
