Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Matthew 3:7-8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
FRUITS OF REPENTANCE
Dennis was involved, heavily involved with drugs. His parents had caught him several times using drugs. When confronted, Dennis said he was sorry and wouldn't do it again. But it wouldn't be long before he would be back at it. Dennis certainly didn't like getting caught, but his continued usage showed that he really wasn't interested in repentance. Yes, he still went to church. He wanted to stay on the good side of his parents and pastor. But his heart was fruitless. There was no fruit, no evidence, that he was truly sorry.
If we look closely enough we can see Dennis standing alongside the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to where John was baptizing. The Pharisees and Sadducees, we might say, were going to church. John was a highly regarded preacher. It seemed important to them to be on his good side. But John warned them that without repentance and the fruits of repentance, they would have to face God's righteous judgment.
Does this bullet from God's Word strike your heart and mine? Do we ever find ourselves hanging on to our pet sins? Our lustful thoughts? Our selfish attitudes? Friends, to think that we can simply say "I'm sorry" and yet continue to live in the same sin is an insult to God and the forgiveness he offers in Christ.
May God, with his powerful and loving Word, hit the target and put us on our knees in humble confession. May he daily turn us to Jesus' bloody cross for perfect cleansing and the power to bear the fruits of repentance.
