Monday, January 4, 2016

Fruits of Repentance

Luke 3:10-14 
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Fruits worthy of repentance - some marked changes - include giving to others in need, be fair in business dealings, and be content with all you have. By starting here, we then are ready for  the realization that we ultimately fail in our own effort and need to be changed by God to be able and willing to keep on choosing well and bearing fruit for the rest of our lives.  The good news talks of repentance and faith; the repentance is turning to do good for God, and faith is the trust in Jesus Christ's work in our place to make right where our own efforts always fall short. 

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