Matthew 3:8

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance ~ Matthew 3:8


John the Baptist is speaking to the Pharisees in this verse, knowing that they knew the scriptures, yet they did not live by what they taught. In fact, they made it difficult for those who listened to them to grow in their faith and change their actions to ensure they had access into heaven. They had so many rules and regulations, not even they could follow them all and yet others were expected to do so. John has been calling for repentance. How often do we make things harder for others than they ought to be? How often do we expect a higher participation or morality or accounting than what we expect from ourselves? Do we stand over others and quote scripture yet have such hard hearts that we cannot love as Christ loved, or bring aid as Christ brought comfort? If we have truly repented, we will love and live as Christ lived, with goodness in our heart, with healing on our lips, with power in our actions. We will talk the talk and walk the walk. Repentance calls us to turn around and live a different life, not as the world, but as Jesus Christ.

Pastor Julia

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