January 3, 2012 (Genesis 6-8; Luke 3)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘we’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.” Luke 3:8 NLT
Observation: John the baptist laid it out plain and simple. There was no doubt or confusion about the fruit that was to be produced by a person that had truly repented and turned to God. As a preacher of the gospel of repentance, John expected real results. A verbal utterance that Jesus was Lord meant nothing, he wanted to see the confessor produce the fruit. He exposed useless faith in heritage, and instructed people to prove they were children of God by the way they lived. God could create beings to worship Him out of stones if He wanted to, but His desire is for His creation to desire Him.
Application: If only people would receive the message of John the baptist today! What a difference repentance makes in the lives of people that truly repent and turn toward God. If only each person that professed Christ with their lips, would strive to prove they are His by the way they live. What if we stopped saying to each other, ‘we’re safe, for Jesus paid the price for our sin’ and started living like Jesus paid the price for our sin. What if the fruit we produced on Sunday morning at church could be expected from us on Tuesday at a business meeting? While talking about Christ makes little difference, living for Him makes all the difference.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace that provides me the courage and strength to live the life You’ve called me to live. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, that provided me the perfect example of obedience to Your will. Help me prove by the way I live that I’m Yours. May the profession of safety from my lips only be uttered to bring You honor, never as a means of boasting. Father, I pray You would accept the worship I bring to You, in Jesus name, Amen!