Last year, Tiger Woods’ public persona unraveled as one moral failure after another rushed to light. While this sad occasion offers us another opportunity to critique the feeding frenzy of pop journalism as well as the idol status we offer our celebrities (a status they could never live up to), it also provides each of us a sober reminder. If we’re honest, the image we present to others is often at odds with the life we actually live.
When John the Baptist appeared, traipsing around in the wild in camel-hair clothes and eating a strange diet, he preached one steady refrain. Change your behavior—Jesus is coming (Luke 3:4). For their entire history, Israel had looked for the Messiah to come and rescue them. Now, John announced that it was actually happening—the Rescuer was on His way. Israel, however, was in bad shape. They had forgotten God; and if Israel wanted to be ready for Jesus, they had a lot of cleaning up to do.
John wasn’t one to mince words. In one instance, he called the gathered crowd a “brood of vipers” (Luke 3:7 NIV). A viper was a dangerous, poisonous snake, and John wanted the people to hear plainly that the path they were on (spurning God), was a dangerous way to live. Many heard John’s sobering words and asked the most sensible question: “What should we do?” (Luke 3:10). John’s response was direct:
• If you have extra coats or food, give to those in need (Luke 3:11).
• If you’re a tax collector, don’t cheat anyone (Luke 3:13).
• If you’re a soldier, don’t use your power unjustly (Luke 3:14).
John spoke to everyone, from the common person to those with power, and told them to live truthfully, honestly, justly. God is coming, and He is bringing justice with Him. Are we ready?
More:
• Isaiah 1:16-18
• Micah 6:8
• Colossians 3:12-17
Next:
If John were speaking to you, what would he encourage you to change? Why do you resist change in that area of your life?
Invisible on October 28, 2010 at 6:00 am
“Paul urged the Ephesians to ‘put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil’ (Eph. 6:11). This protective covering includes truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and prayer (vv.14-18). ”
I’ve started receiving the daily bread at home and this was in the daily bread story for today.
I’m not ready, the prospect of God coming actually frightens me, but I think that the above excerpt would be something you could do to get ready.
timely post.
Daren on October 28, 2010 at 6:47 am
Invisible, I’m not sure where you are in your Christian walk (new convert or re-dedicating your life to Christ) but, I assure you that you are not alone in your feelings of not “being ready”. Prayer and reading the Bible will help take away the fear that you have as we all anticipate Christs’ return.
lindagma on October 28, 2010 at 6:49 am
I’m ready for myself but there are those I pray for who are not. We will never achieve perfection here on earth… but God knows our heart and our desire to do so… what a blessing when He comes and we will no longer have this struggle with sin.
winn collier on October 28, 2010 at 7:49 am
@invisible: God comes in strength and love. John the Baptist’s hard words are for those who keep resisting love and thinking they are righteous in and of themselves. I understand the fear, but God’s perfect love drowns out dread and fear.
@gladys: I understand your concern and yes – our eternal life comes from grace alone, a gift. However, nowhere in the post did I talk about the way we receive eternal life (or even the idea of eternal life). I am echoing John’s words that following Jesus, preparing for Jesus, affects our life. Change is in order.
peace.
Invisible on October 28, 2010 at 1:20 pm
@ Gladys,
Thank you for trying to clarify some things. I know it’s because you wanted to be sure that no one got the wrong idea. The post written by the blogger did not leave the impression on me that I had to do something to be ready for God. I didn’t think that that was what he was saying. I actually really thought the daily bread thing seemed to go in line with what the blogger wrote. I’m sorry if I was wrong. I don’t seem to navigate through all of this very well. I’ve been told (even on this site) that there is nothing I can or have to do for God to love me.
The thing is… I think the site and all of the posts the bloggers write are maybe directed towards people who already understand and believe, so something that’s written is understood by most everyone, but I either misunderstand, don’t get it at all or think I get it but apparently don’t. I wish there was a beginners manual out there. I’m trying to learn but it can be messy.
@ Daren, I’m not sure where I am either. So much of the things written and talked about here are new to me. I’m trying to take it in and learn. I’ve been told that I don’t need to fear God. That he loves me, that he will forgive me and accept me. I hear it but a lot of it is hard for me to believe. I’m sorry for that.
@ Winn Collier, I didn’t mean to cause any misunderstandings. I’m not sure but maybe I worded my original post all wrong? I thought my response was pretty much in line with what you had written. I’m sorry it came off wrong, that’s my bad. That wasn’t what I thought you were saying, but what Gladys wrote is pretty much what I believe, though I’m trying to change that.
@ anyone whom I’ve caused a misunderstanding with or upset…
I’m trying to learn what it is that God really says, wants and expects. I mean, I just want to know what the actual truth is. I’m not saying anything anyone has said is not true, or that it is. I don’t know. It’s why I’m here. Perhaps it’s not the right place. I ask way to many questions to begin with and then the answers just raise more questions. I’ve been told elsewhere that I can find the answers to my questions in the bible. That’s great if you have the faintest clue as to where to find them, which I don’t.
So I should read it and then I’ll find them, right? It’s not that easy. For much of my life I was not allowed to have a bible. If one found it’s way into our house it was destroyed and the idiot who smuggled it in paid dearly for their mistake. I know it’s wrong and probably even a sin but I’m still gun shy when it comes to actually reading the bible. I’d likely get it all wrong anyway. I know it’s frustrating when someone doesn’t just believe what they’re told but the thing is over your lifetime you can be told a lot of things that don’t just disappear when a new thought or belief is introduced. For many years I was taught that God hated me because I was a filthy sinner. That Jesus couldn’t and certainly wouldn’t save me, even if he could. That every horrible thing that came my way was a direct punishment by God and ordered by God. Later, as a young adult, I’m told that God does love me, that Jesus did die for me and would save me if I ask him to. But I’m also told that if I die with sin in my life I will be cast aside because God can’t let sinners into heaven and that he’ll only wait so long for me to believe and if I keep rejecting him and refusing to convert, he may be forced to do something to get my attention. What I was pecisely told was “Don’t keep turning away from God or he may take your son from you in order to get your attention.” Let’s just say I didn’t come running. Instead I spat out that if this God would kill my son to make me believe, then he was no God I wanted anything to do with. Which didn’t go over well with the people preaching at me. Years later I start being told by someone else that God loves me no matter what. That there is nothing I need to do to earn it. That there is nothing I can do to lose it. That he understands my fear of him and will patiently wait and draw me to him. That he forgives me and always will forgive me. That it’s all by his grace, his grace, his grace, and nothing else.
You know, it’s just not easy to know what to believe or what is the truth. Everyone has sounded certain that they know the truth, and I’m left not being certain of anything. And I just shared way to much information.
@ work-in-progress,
Thank you, it helps to know someone understands. Sometimes it’s a lot harder to forgive yourself than it is to forgive others. It’s a pit fall but I’m trying to climb out of it.
Good day to everyone
winn collier on October 28, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@ invisible: there is absolutely nothing wrong with your post. you ask great questions, keep them coming. you obviously have a sincere heart. and if any of us give off the impression that we’ve got all this figured out, don’t believe it. keep asking questions. keep wrestling. keep going to God.
I would offer this simple suggestion amid confusion or fear or doubt: simply consider Jesus. What was Jesus’ heart? What were Jesus’ words? How would Jesus respond? Whatever Jesus is like, that is what God is like.
peace.
daisymarygoldr on October 28, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Very convicting post!
John the Baptist’s ministry to prepare the way for the Lord was to preach a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3). His job description was “to turn” the hearts of the fathers and the disobedient.
In verses 10-14, he spells out the fruit that comes from genuine repentance. To share clothing and food with those in need, not to cheat by over-collection of taxes and for a soldier to use power unjustly and extort money, requires that we should repent for our sins of selfishness and greed.
True followers of Christ will not value opulence or worship materialism. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Jesus who came to preach the Gospel to the poor did not even carry a penny on him and had no place to live. The first century Christians produced fruits of repentance by selling their possessions and goods and distributed to everyone in need.
What would John say if he walked into our church today and saw some of us have multiple houses and vacation homes that we do not necessarily live in everyday, while our less fortunate widowed or divorced mothers and their children are forced to live in shelters?
Living lavish lifestyles with fancy cars, exotic parties and vacation trips does not edify or glorify God in any way while people within our churches live on food stamps or even go hungry. We will surely be accountable to God if we use our possessions solely for our own pleasure.
Most of us could stand to share our belongings with our needy brothers and sisters in Christ, lest we be called a brood of vipers!
When we turn from our selfish ways to follow Jesus, He will forgive our sins; change our hearts and our priorities. True repentance means to turn the affections of our hearts towards God and to love the things He loves.
Michael on October 29, 2010 at 6:49 am
You can give, without loving, But you can’t love, without giving.