Title: God's Favorite Fruit/Topic: Repentance

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-10
7 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? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Observation: John's reaction to the spiritual leaders of the day coming to where he was baptizing people was intensely negative. Why? They were full of spiritual arrogance and did not feel any need to repent. John confronts the source of their arrogance, their pride in their spiritual “pedigree”, and tells them that it is worthless. He makes it clear that God is only interested in those who produce good fruit (referencing his earlier comment about baptism being only for those who have repentant hearts).

Application: There will always be spiritually arrogant people who gather around anything new that God is doing and try to either use it for their own advantage or be dismissive of it. Anyone who does not “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” is to be confronted and avoided. This story is also a severe warning to watch my own heart and make sure I do not fall into the trap of becoming spiritually arrogant. Just because God has used me in the past (my “pedigree”) doesn't mean I am qualified to lead others. My heart must stay humble if I want a close relationship with God or to be of use in teaching others.

Prayer: Father, I have seen many good leaders that once were close to you fall away because they lost their humility and became arrogant due to spiritual “success”. They started focusing on what you had done through them instead of what you were still wanting to do in them. Keep me focused in the present Lord, and on being constantly more conformed to your image. What matters is what is in my heart and I want my heart to stay humble.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.