Today’s Reading:
Matthew 3:7-12
“But when he (John the Baptise) saw many pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. You brood of snakes! He exclaimed. “who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Proved by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and returned to God. Dont 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. Even now the axe of God’s judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. ”I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with firs. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” (Mathew 3:7-12 NLT)
The gap between Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew known as the Intertestamental Period, was said to be 400 years in which Israel did not receive any prophetic message from God, because there was no genuine prophet or spokesperson for God. During this period Israel was ruled by different heathen empires who did not know the God of the Jews. They mixed with them and acquired their cultures and traditions. So, the ministry of John the Baptist and that of Jesus reminded the people that God has not forsaken them. God’s silence during these years was only an antecedent to the greatest act of His redemptive plan.
The theme of John’s preaching was ‘Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near’. The moment he saw the influential religious groups – the Pharisees and the Sadducees showed up, he called them Brood of Vipers, who should produce fruits in keeping with repentance and not think because they are descendants of Abraham, they would be spared from the wrath of God to come (v. 7, 9; 21:43).
What is repentance?
The biblical concept of repentance is to change one’s mind. Repentance is more than going down the road and then decide to take another road going to a different direction. Repentance is not that simple. Repentance involves making a drastic decision – for example one is moving in a direction and then come to terms with the evil, the unrighteousness, the pitfalls on that direction. May be after listening to a teaching that moves the heart, or a heart melting experience, one then makes a U-turn into the opposite direction. Repentance is a change of thoughts, a change of thinking that causes a drastic change in one’s life style forever. This experience may lead one to being born again, surrendering one’s life to the lordship of Jesus Christ. A true and genuine action and ethical change is required in any believer/Christian who really wants to make heaven. Mere lip service, preaching one thing and doing another thing is not acceptable to God.
In our world today, there are many like the Pharisees and the Sadducees who think because they are nearer the altar of God, or that God has blessed them richly, they are sacred cows. They think they can do as they desire, and then ask for forgiveness from a merciful God and he will forgive them. Yes, God forgives sins, but there may be limits to God’s forgiveness. The Scriptures also make us realise that judgement of God will start from the altar of God. God will mete out fiercer judgement on the people who think they know God intimately and are too familiar with Him. They have served God and done miracles, prayed with people and God answered, God healed the sick and did exploits through them. There is no sacred cows with God. True repentance in Christianity calls for more than words or rituals (Ps 51). It calls for us to change our behaviours which does not conform with the way of Jesus Christ. We should produce fruits in keeping with repentance. This means that God looks beyond our words and religious activities to see if our conduct relates to what we say, preach to others. God judges our words that accompanies our actions.
The axe of God’s judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees; every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. Jesus is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, to gather the wheat into His barn, but will burn the chaff with never ending fire. (vv. 11-12). Hell is true, and Jesus’ second coming to judge is at hand. God is able to bring unbelievers into his fold to exchange for believers who are not ready to be active in their obedience. Meaning we should believe and at the same time live for God in order to produce good fruit. We must obey the teachings of Christ to be able to resist temptation, actively serve God, help others in their predicament, and generously share our faith in love.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right, teachable and humble spirit within me.
Father, let me experience Your deep, great and mighty deliverance in every area of my life and family, in Jesus name.
O Lord show mercy upon Your Church, purge and sanctify her with Your fire to function to the glory of Your holy name, in Jesus name.
Father revisit our nation with love, your mercy and glorify your name, in Jesus name.
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