The Fruit of Repentance

This scene involves the questions being asked by a crowd that has gathered around John the Baptist as he was baptizing in the region around the Jordan. John was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The way that Israel was living was so far from what God intended that John called them a “brood of vipers.” He also told them that they must “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”.  Some of the examples that John gives of bearing the fruit of repentance are sharing your extra tunic and giving food to those who need it.

 

It is no wonder that John keyed on the way in which God’s people were taking care of each other as a sure sign of true repentance. In other words, a sure sign that people had turned from their ungodly ways and were properly living under God’s rule was that they would share generously with those in need. The reason John the Baptist would focus on this area is because the sum of the Law and Prophets (the entire Old Testament) is to Love God and Love People (Matthew 22:34-40). The New Testament further states that our love for God is mostly displayed in loving people (Rom 13:9-10; Gal 5:14). This is not something that comes natural to me as it pulls against my selfish flesh. Honestly, I must constantly pray and work at loving God more, and thereby loving my neighbor more. I must remain aware that if I am truly living under God’s rule, my life will physically display a love for my neighbors and any who are in need. When my life is not displaying a love for others, it is a sure sign that my relationship with God is out of alignment.

 

Lord, help me to love you and love my neighbor more than I ever have. I am so selfish, please forgive me. Please bring me and your church to repentance so that we will display genuine love for one another, especially to those in need. Help me to share without reservation and to value showing love over retaining wealth or possessions. Make us a people who place many, many treasures in heaven.