Matthew 3

Verse from Today's Reading:

Matt.3:8 "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God."

I can't help but reflect on the story flow going from Joseph's experience to the birth of Jesus and then to read how Mary and Joseph had to flee and actually go into hiding and now time jumps to Jesus and his baptism.

There are no mistakes in the flow yet there is obviously alot left out from the birth to the day Jesus comes for baptism. It really causes me to ask alot of questions but what keeps me from getting side trackec is that if God had wanted me to know more He would have shared it with me/ us. So, try not to allow your mind to wonder too far from the text.

Chapter 1-2 really focuses on the character of those God chose to participate in His Son's arrival. It also points to His provision for them and His active participation in guiding them. He never left them wondering what was next. He spoke at the time when they needed to act. They were available to God and acted in obedience to His directions. Oh and let's not forget that those who sought to thwart God's plan were overcome and they were not able to do so.

Now in Chapter 3 - the theme of character and obedience is consistent. I think this is very important. Let's dig in and see what Chapter 3 has for us.


If I had to give this chapter a title it would be :
"Turn from your sins"
John the Baptist's message in 3:2-3
"Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

This message was drawing people to come and be saved. The word said that people were coming from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley. This one day John saw many Pharisees and Saducees coming to be baptized. John speaks to them saying, "You brood of Vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ' We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Matt. 3:7-10

These were men who were trying to cover all their bases. John saw through their actions and called them on the carpet. Saying to them "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God." These men were doing all the "right" things but it was pretty evident to John that while they may be doing all the right things the fruit of their lives were not good.

Ever met someone who said all the right things and even at times it looked like they were a really nice person but when you got to know them, I mean really know them you saw just ugliness. Everything they said and did not match with what you saw in their lives. Ususally these kinds of people have 2 groups of friends. It has been my personal experience that usually the person living this double standard really has a desire to be the kind of person he is trying to impersonate. But when he leaves that group he reverts to the person he really is- there is no real change. I have seen this lived out in my own life. I remember when I was a teenager. I really wanted to be that good "Christian" and I had friends who truly were, and they lived it day in and day out. When I was with them I really did live like them but when I was on my own or got mixed in with the other crowd the "lost". I would be easily swayed to follow after them too. It wasn't until I had a real crisis in my life that I realized that I had been riding on the fence and while I might have been "saved" from HELL. I wasn't living out the Christian life. I was just mooching the benefit of SALVATION and CHRIST was not LORD of my life.

Now some would probably say I wasn't truly saved and I have wondered about this myself. I think that discussion is for another day. In keeping with this text though, I think this is what John the Baptist was saying to the Saducees and Pharisees.

You say you are coming to be baptized yet your life isn't reflecting the change that baptism is suppose to be representative. Don't be a fool and think you can deceive GOD!

The verse for today is : “ Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.”

My prayer for today is that I would produce the fruit of the spirit rather than the fruit of the flesh…..
Gal 5:16-26 is a clear indication of what a life lived in the flesh will produce and what a life lived in the spirit will produce. Gal.5:25 “ If we live by the spirit let us also walk by the spirit.”

Lord help us to produce the fruit of the spirit today and my it be evident in our lives both publicly and privately that we are YOUR CHILDREN and that we are walking according to the Spirit of Christ!

It is in your name I pray,
The Name of Jesus
Amen…………