So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
"Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father, ' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
"Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Luke 3:7-9
Just because we're saved it doesn't mean anything. The people of Israel believed that since Abraham was their father they were entitled to the blessings of God. John strictly rebuked that by calling them "a brood of vipers" and that people who will share in God's kingdom are those who "bear fruits in keeping with repentance." In other words being a child of God involves doing good works that stem from full appreciation of the grace of God.
Why do we do certain things? Is it really from God's grace or is it stemming from some other personal motive? More than not it comes from the flesh. I need a daily tune-up so that my thoughts and intentions are purely from the Holy Spirit. Will it always work out the way we plan? No. But the more we discipline ourselves the closer we'll get to God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your divine grace! It's only through Your sacrifice that we even have a reservation into Your palace. Help me to prepare properly by understanding the road You set me on. I know that entrance into Your kingdom is huge but there's so much more. How that grace is supposed to guide us into servanthood. I love You Father God, Mighty Son and Holy Spirit! Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment