Matthew 3:8
”Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
These are words from John the Baptist, addressed to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to be baptized. He did not trust their hearts. When someone truly repents, they make every effort not to return to their old ways. Just being one of God’s chosen people did not exempt these men from this truth. It is easy to fall into this thinking. I know Jesus is my savior, I know God created me and will bring me to heaven at the end of my time. But this faith, this knowledge, does not give me any special permission to continue sinning. If anything, this makes me more accountable for my actions.
Father God, I am truly sorry for my sins, because I want to respect you fully. Forgive me, Lord. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 3:8 John the Baptist was just beginning his ministry, as was Jesus. John was speaking these words to the Sadducees and the Pharisees. In the previous verse he had called them vipers, but now he explains to them that they can repent, not just with words and baptism but in the way they live going forward. These are words we can live by. We will all sin, but real change will be proven to God by the way we live. Prayer: Gracious God, thank you always for your forgiveness. May my heart in life prove my love for you. Amen
Thursday, April 7th 2022
Matthew 3:8 Our repentance ought to be seen and heard and felt everyday of our lives. That's how it's supposed to be. It is not a one-time thing where we tell God that we're sorry we committed this or that, only to repeat it tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Simply put, when we repent, we turn our backs on the things we do that displease God. When we are told to "bear fruit in keeping with remembrance," it means living a repentant life, one that is a consistent and continuous effort to live a life that pleases God. The day we get saved is the day we start living a life that pleases Him. How …
Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Repentance means to change our minds and turn around and head in a new direction. True repentance means to be sorry for what we have done and resolve to stop the wrong thing and replacing it with good living. Living as God wants us to live and believing in Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Dearest Lord, I am sorry for my sins against you. I attempt every day to do better, but sometimes I fall back and give into temptation. Give me the grace to do better and produce the fruit mentioned in this verse. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Matthew 3:8
Once I overcome the hurdle of repentance, there is a sense of freedom that will hopefully produce fruit. John’s challenge may have been directed at people who felt they were above repentance, but life experience tells us there is no one, including ourself, who has no need of self-reflection and repentance from sin committed so freely and so often. If I accept the blame for my sin, God will remove the guilt and replace it with the fruit of the Spirit.
Prayer - Lord God, keep my heart open to reflection and when needed, repentance. Let me see sin and seek repentance immediately, freeing me to be fruitful in representing Your kingdom to those with whom I interact.…