WHAT SHALL WE DO?
LUKE 3:7-10 NKJV
7 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?"
John the Baptist had a unique style and a very specific assignment. He was called to prepare the way for Jesus. His was a message of repentance.
Over the years, I have seen young preachers claim to have a John the Baptist style of ministry. It worked for John. I can't say I've seen that style work for others.
John was very to the point. Today we would call him harsh. He called the multitudes that came to him offspring of snakes.
But God had anointed John to turn the hard hearts of a nation that was going through the motions. His message of repentance was a message of change.
When John declared that they were to bear fruits worthy of repentance, he meant there was to be corresponding action. Don't simply come and be baptized; actually, change.
For hundreds of years, the people of Israel had held onto their heritage. Because they were the descendants of Abraham, they believed that was enough.
John challenged that assumption. He caused them to see it was not about their heritage. It was about their heart.
This challenged the multitude that came to John. This heart challenge left them puzzled, so they asked John, what shall we do then?
And John had answers for them. In essence, it was to take care of your brothers and sisters who did not have basic necessities. To be honest in your transactions. And to not abuse positions of power.
John was called to go before Jesus and soften the hearts of the people. He was called to help the people change.
APPLICATION:
John's statement of bearing fruit that is worthy of repentance is still applicable today.
We don't want to simply say we are sorry when we have done wrong. We want to show it with our actions.
Christianity is still more about heart than heritage. And our heart is reflected in what we do.
PRAYER:
Lord may my heart and actions line up to be pleasing to You.