The rough-looking wilderness man had a knack for straight talk. Those looking for flowery rhetoric would find none with this straight-arrow preacher, but they would find a man of undeniable truth. His call was abundantly clear: evidence a change of heart with a change of lifestyle.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" ... "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance ; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father '; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:2, 7-10)
Calling your audience a "brood of vipers" is anything but an effective strategy in building a loyal following, but then that was never John the Baptist's agenda. This simple messenger of truth was consumed with his role to 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT !' (Matthew 3:3). It was never his goal to build a reputation or attract a crowd to himself; it was always about pointing people in the right direction in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
The world desperately needs some John the Baptists today. The call in this eleventh-hour of human history is for a dedicated band of truth-seekers and truth-speakers who will point a wayward world toward the coming king and His kingdom. A gospel of prosperity and feel-good faith will do little to prepare hearts to welcome the king and to rule the world. The urgent call is to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). The proof is in the walk, not the lofty talk.
We are forever indebted to a crusty, straight-talking preacher who looks us in the eye and calls us to live like we believe it. Calling ourselves fruit trees isn't enough, he says; unless we bear fruit we are destined to be "cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10). The evidence of our intention is our action.
The coming of the king and the kingdom is just around the corner, and now is the time to 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT' (Matthew 3:3). Are you headed down the straight path of the Lord? Are those you know and love headed down that path? The need for an answer to these questions may be more urgent than you know.
Steve
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" ... "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance ; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father '; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:2, 7-10)
Calling your audience a "brood of vipers" is anything but an effective strategy in building a loyal following, but then that was never John the Baptist's agenda. This simple messenger of truth was consumed with his role to 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT !' (Matthew 3:3). It was never his goal to build a reputation or attract a crowd to himself; it was always about pointing people in the right direction in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
The world desperately needs some John the Baptists today. The call in this eleventh-hour of human history is for a dedicated band of truth-seekers and truth-speakers who will point a wayward world toward the coming king and His kingdom. A gospel of prosperity and feel-good faith will do little to prepare hearts to welcome the king and to rule the world. The urgent call is to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). The proof is in the walk, not the lofty talk.
We are forever indebted to a crusty, straight-talking preacher who looks us in the eye and calls us to live like we believe it. Calling ourselves fruit trees isn't enough, he says; unless we bear fruit we are destined to be "cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10). The evidence of our intention is our action.
The coming of the king and the kingdom is just around the corner, and now is the time to 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT' (Matthew 3:3). Are you headed down the straight path of the Lord? Are those you know and love headed down that path? The need for an answer to these questions may be more urgent than you know.
Steve
posted by steve @ 7:28 AM
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