Anyone can talk the talk. The proof isn't in the saying; it's in the doing. A no-holds-barred wilderness preacher cut right to the chase when large crowds sought him out:
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3.7-8).
Calling a potentially receptive audience a pit of snakes is hardly popular, but popularity wasn't top priority. The key point was that neither ancestry nor spiritual heritage mattered (v.8b); only an appropriate response to the profession of repentance. Prove your profession by appropriate action.
John the baptist was anything but vague regarding appropriate response:
"And the crowds were questioning him, saying, 'Then what shall we do?' And he would answer and say to them, 'The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.' And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.' Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, 'And what about us, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.' " (Luke 3:10-14)
Genuine repentance plays out in actions toward others. Material sharing, fairness in business dealings, and restraint from assertive force and false accusations all characterize those whose status with the Father has changed. The two Great Commandments (Matthew 22.36-40) thus are inseparably linked.
Biblical truth is either validated or nullified in these areas of practical living. No matter how passionately we declare such truths as the oneness of God, or the message of the kingdom of God, our conduct toward others becomes the final test of truth.
Who we are around others is the true test of faith and truth. May all be in harmony as the Lord desires.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3.7-8).
Calling a potentially receptive audience a pit of snakes is hardly popular, but popularity wasn't top priority. The key point was that neither ancestry nor spiritual heritage mattered (v.8b); only an appropriate response to the profession of repentance. Prove your profession by appropriate action.
John the baptist was anything but vague regarding appropriate response:
"And the crowds were questioning him, saying, 'Then what shall we do?' And he would answer and say to them, 'The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.' And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.' Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, 'And what about us, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.' " (Luke 3:10-14)
Genuine repentance plays out in actions toward others. Material sharing, fairness in business dealings, and restraint from assertive force and false accusations all characterize those whose status with the Father has changed. The two Great Commandments (Matthew 22.36-40) thus are inseparably linked.
Biblical truth is either validated or nullified in these areas of practical living. No matter how passionately we declare such truths as the oneness of God, or the message of the kingdom of God, our conduct toward others becomes the final test of truth.
Who we are around others is the true test of faith and truth. May all be in harmony as the Lord desires.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:43 AM
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