Tuesday Thought – September 8, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"'Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.' 'What should we do then?' the crowd asked. John answered, 'The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.' Tax collectors also came to be baptized. 'Teacher,' they asked, 'what should we do?' 'Don't collect any more than you are required to,' he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, 'What should we do?' He replied, 'Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely -- be content with your pay.'" (Luke 3:8-14)

John preached boldly to the people who came to hear him. He didn't hold anything back. He was willing to face the tough issues and confront people with their problems.

Some came to hear John who thought they were okay with God because of their ancestry. There still people who think they are Christians because they were raised in the church. But a relationship with God does not come automatically. You can't grow into it. A relationship with God comes through a personal decision and is always followed by personal life change.

Some came to hear John who were selfishly holding on to what they had even when they were aware of people around them who were in need. These folks were challenged to be generous. There was an element of rebuke in John's preaching.

Some came to hear John who were not treating people fairly in their work. The tax collectors and soldiers were told in no uncertain terms that God is not just concerned about your "religious" life. God cares about how you handle your business. How you are at work should reflect your faith just as much as how you are in church.

A relationship with God should change the way we live.

His, by Grace, Steve