Advent 2024 - Week 3 - Day 16
Day 16: Monday, December 16, 2024
Primary Scripture: Luke 3:8
Supporting Scriptures: James 2:14-17; Galatians 5:22-23
When people ask to join the church one of the first questions a pastor will ask is, "Have you been baptized." There is much to this question. For those that have been baptized, we dig a little deeper into how old they were, what denomination, what do they remember (if they were little), and other similar questions. For those who have not been baptized, (after we quietly shout with joy) we move the candidate for baptism into the catechism process.
I bring this up to illustrate the two kinds of Christians - new ones and the "I've always been." Of these two camps, whom do you think has the most difficulty seeing their need for repentance?
In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist warns the people flocking to see him to not rely on their heritage or religious identity for salvation, saying, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” His words challenge us to consider the evidence of our faith. Are we truly living in a way that reflects our repentance and trust in God, or are we simply going through the motions of religious activity?
James 2:14-17 reminds us that faith without works (our bearing of fruit) is dead. True faith is demonstrated through action—through the way we love, serve, and live out God’s commands. Similarly, Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are evidence of a life transformed by God’s Spirit. New Christians take a long while before they bear fruit. Many lifelong Christians are a living testimony to that last sentence.
As we prepare for Christmas, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. But Advent is an opportunity to pause and reflect: Are we bearing the fruit of repentance in our lives? Are we allowing God’s Spirit to work in us, producing fruit that glorifies Him? Let us ask God to help us live in a way that reflects His love and grace to the world.
Let's Pray
Lord, teach us what it means to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Help us to live out our faith in tangible ways and to reflect Your Spirit’s work in our lives. May our actions demonstrate Your love, joy, and peace to those around us, so that others may see Your light in us.
Amen.
Primary Scripture: Luke 3:8
Supporting Scriptures: James 2:14-17; Galatians 5:22-23
When people ask to join the church one of the first questions a pastor will ask is, "Have you been baptized." There is much to this question. For those that have been baptized, we dig a little deeper into how old they were, what denomination, what do they remember (if they were little), and other similar questions. For those who have not been baptized, (after we quietly shout with joy) we move the candidate for baptism into the catechism process.
I bring this up to illustrate the two kinds of Christians - new ones and the "I've always been." Of these two camps, whom do you think has the most difficulty seeing their need for repentance?
In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist warns the people flocking to see him to not rely on their heritage or religious identity for salvation, saying, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” His words challenge us to consider the evidence of our faith. Are we truly living in a way that reflects our repentance and trust in God, or are we simply going through the motions of religious activity?
James 2:14-17 reminds us that faith without works (our bearing of fruit) is dead. True faith is demonstrated through action—through the way we love, serve, and live out God’s commands. Similarly, Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are evidence of a life transformed by God’s Spirit. New Christians take a long while before they bear fruit. Many lifelong Christians are a living testimony to that last sentence.
As we prepare for Christmas, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. But Advent is an opportunity to pause and reflect: Are we bearing the fruit of repentance in our lives? Are we allowing God’s Spirit to work in us, producing fruit that glorifies Him? Let us ask God to help us live in a way that reflects His love and grace to the world.
Let's Pray
Lord, teach us what it means to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Help us to live out our faith in tangible ways and to reflect Your Spirit’s work in our lives. May our actions demonstrate Your love, joy, and peace to those around us, so that others may see Your light in us.
Amen.
No Comments