Category: Devotions

Change

Luke 3: 14 “Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

John is calling for wholesale change, the kind that turns society around. True revival isn’t seen in a building of worshippers but amongst the crowds, the tax-collectors and soldiers. It is seen in our relationships, homes and work places.

The soldiers were not told to quit their jobs but to be a different kind of soldier. “Don’t justify your oppressive attacks on people, stealing from them and bringing false charges against them simply because you think you haven’t enough salary.” That still happens today in many countries where corruption and bribery is openly displayed.

Basically, John is saying there is never any reasonable excuse, they did have a choice and they should start choosing right.

If the soldiers stopped their extortion, the tax collectors stopped their exploitation and the crowd cared for one another then this would bring a productivity to their communities that would make them fruitful.

It made sense and it still does. John’s context was one of emergency, an urgency to be different. Not because of what has happened but of what is to come.

If you have a special guest coming to your house today then yesterday you would have spent some time cleaning and getting everything ready.

When people start to change the way they live their lives it isn’t only a signal that something good has happened to them but it does signal that something is about to take place. This truth applies for those inside and outside the Church.

 

Be fair

Luke 3: 12-13 “Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.”

The Romans governed the land of Israel and the Jews paid for it. Some of them worked for the Romans in collecting the taxes from their own people. These were despised not only because they were willing to work for the Romans but they more often than not became very dishonest in demanding more taxes than the Romans had asked for thus becoming richer than those paying the taxes. They were traitors and sinners, a people doomed to God’s damnation.

But ‘even tax collectors’ want to change. Matthew and Zacchaeus were tax collectors who later found a new life in Christ.

John didn’t say to the tax collector, “leave your job; stop working for the Romans.”

He just told them to stop the exploitation of the people by becoming rich at their expense.

As you go to work today, whatever that is, don’t bend the rules in your favour. When claiming expenses don’t claim what should not be claimed. If you are employed for a certain amount of hours then do those hours and the extra miles. Don’t try and do as little as possible. Don’t try and justify your actions towards you benefiting: “I deserve this.”

“You have to look after yourself” is not in the Bible.

In this way you will signal change. You will be moving towards fruit-bearing, a productivity that God wants you to have and a preparation for Him to move.

Share with the crowd

Luke 3:11 “What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’”

The crowd ask the question.

John looks at the crowd and realises that his message of preparing the way for the Lord and of productivity needs to be applied to them.

The crowd asked so the message needs to fit.

The answer is to live not individualistic lives but to live within the crowd, within community.

John doesn’t give a list of rules. He is not like some of their rabbi’s.

He doesn’t say ‘pray more’. He doesn’t say ‘be like me’.

He knows the needs of the crowd. He knows there are the poor living alongside the rich.

So he says, ‘share your clothes and share your food’.

So what crowd do you belong to?

A neighbourhood crowd?

A work crowd?

A leisure crowd?

A church crowd?

If you want to know what you should do then you should share what you have with those in that crowd. Look for the needs and do all you can to meet those needs.

This will make you productive. This will prepare the way.

Keep asking the right question.

Luke 3:20 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.”

Three sets of people now respond to John’s message in the same way.

It’s a great question.

It is amazing how Luke records this passage.

The next few verses contain truths for every day living.

It indicates discipleship in our very core of our lives. John will go on to apply the message to the area of their life which is most central.

‘How should we apply your message to our lives?’

‘What changes should we make?’

‘What are the action points?’

Throughout our life we need to keep asking this same question.

‘What should I do?’

‘How do I do this?’

‘How do I produce fruit?’

‘How do I change?’

‘How do I prepare the way for the Lord?’

‘How do I make straight paths for him?’

There isn’t anything wrong with our ‘knowing’ but it would appear there is a lot of things wrong with our ‘doing’.

We know so much. We have read every book there is but all that has grown is our minds.

Discipleship isn’t a programme or a book to follow together. Discipleship is to do mission, it is to make disciples, it is to bear fruit.

Perhaps right now whether it is to your ‘John the Baptist’ figure or in prayer to the Lord you can ask:

‘What should I do now?’

The axe and the fire

Luke 3:9

“The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’”

Where is your axe? Where is the fire?

Make sure it is laying at the foot of the trees and make sure the fire can be seen.

Is that seen to be threatening? Perhaps.

But trees are trees because they produce fruit.

We are called to produce, to be effective, to grow.

If these things are not happening then we need to bring change.

Why keep things that are not growing and so have no reason for being there?

Is it still a tree? Yes of course.

Can it be used for other things? Of course.

But if no fruit then it is not being what it was meant to be.

The message is this:

1. Don’t let things occupy positions if they are not producing effectiveness. Make the change.

2. Persistence pays off’ and ‘hanging in there’ needs accountability and wisdom for it to be worthwhile. You might need to make small changes in order to be productive. But set target dates with advice and if things don’t turn around then make the change.

The axe and the fire need to be a motivating factor for productivity.

If that creates a fear it does so only for the lazy and the ones who want to get through life with the minimum amount of sweat.

For those who see the privilege of being involved in the work of God there is no fear.

In between the axe and the fire we need to steward this opportunity we have to grow, to influence and do the work of God.

It is not complicated but we have made it so.

It is simple. We were made to grow, to inspire, to produce and it all comes through doing the work of God.

Resting occupies only a small part of the week. The majority of our lives is in the work of God.

A sabbath comes only after 6 days of productivity.

No productivity then the sabbath is not needed.

As you wake today you get ready to do the work.

There is much to do.

Without further study and what’s in my memory, this is a list of work duties that are needed to done:

Be hospitable

Be kind

Be joyful

Be patient

Be self-controlled

Be thankful

Be alert

Be humble

Be devoted to one another

Be merciful

I have seen Christians and Churches in the most oppressed of times grow. I have seen productivity in places where it would seem impossible for the work to continue. Poverty, disease, persecution and many attacks only seem to inspire the work to flourish.

In many spheres of life when things are not producing then an examination of the work and the workforce takes place and changes are often made.

Some people in our churches understand productivity outside the Church better than inside it. They get it. They are not afraid of the axe and the fire as it is part of their every day life.

An old retired Pastor told me the other day of a prominent historical church where the pianist had played the piano for many years. They had invited a visiting singing ministry to come to the Church who had also brought with them their own pianist. They were asked to lead the Church in a hymn but the Church pianist would not leave the piano clinging on to her piano stool that she had sat on for many years for dear life. In the end 2 deacons had to lift her off the piano so that the visiting ministry team could lead the Church in a strong united song of worship!

The axe and the fire was needed.

We have in some cases replaced fruitfulness with faithfulness. But we have failed to see that being faithful is being fruitful.

Maybe we need to pick up the axe. If we don’t then we certainly need to place it in full view that anything can be changed and nothing is here for ever. The Church is here to produce on earth. Christians are not here for gifts only but graces.

The courage for fruit-bearing

Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”

It takes courage to change and begin to do things not only differently but positively different, to make an impact and to influence.

It takes courage to bear fruit in ways you haven’t before.

To do good.

To speak well.

To be gracious.

In fact John will take the people into some behavioural practices that they can implement showing signs of such ‘fruit’.

It takes courage not to use people or your experience or heritage to make you better than you really are. Abraham was indeed the Father but they were not to hide behind him. It takes courage knowing no one or nothing can help you to avoid the fruitful repentant life.

It takes courage not to be another statistic of being given the chance to be all you can be but missing it. It takes courage not to allow other sons and daughters of God to be born to take your place that you will not occupy.

Pastor to the baptismal candidates: You brood of vipers!

Luke 3:7 “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”

John’s name means ‘Yahweh is gracious’ so it is strange that the first thing we read of what comes out of his mouth is ‘You brood of vipers!’

Luke says he said this to the crowds. Matthew says he said it to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus would repeat the term to the Pharisees later.

Why did he say that?

I talked with a friend yesterday who is attending a baptismal service.

Can you imagine today the Pastor calling the baptismal candidates forward with the announcement, “You brood of vipers!”?

John’s identity and his words seem so at odds.

Should the church follow suit and slander those outside the church?

Or did it have a meaning that we are unaware of?

Jesus told his disciples to be as wise as serpents. So it is all a bit confusing.

Jesus used the serpent as a powerful symbol of healing in John 3:14-16.

So here is the question: why did John call those coming to be baptised ‘brood of vipers’? Why did he slander them?

Maybe it wasn’t slander!

1. John doesn’t call them vipers but children of vipers (the Pharisees/Sadducees – religion)
2. The religious rejected John and would reject Jesus for they believed they didn’t need to repent and were warning the people against him. ‘Who warned you ..?’ (Who did you listen to?)
3. Adult snakes do not take care of their baby snakes. The babies are born and then left. They don’t live as families.

So maybe John wasn’t being slanderous to the baptismal candidates.

To those coming to him with repentance and for forgiveness he says to them:

You need to depart from your history (Religious duty/oppression). Jesus would say later ‘Do not say we have Abraham as our ancestor’ (no one can call upon their previous generation to bring them into the kingdom whether Jew or Christian)

Who warned you to ignore my message? Come away from them!

Now that’s a good message.

Comfort, comfort my people

Luke 3:6 “And all people will see God’s salvation.”

Luke has already given us the context with naming the leaders of the time, 5 Gentiles and 2 Jews who all were guilty of oppression and abuse of power in many ways.

Then we have seen that John’s ministry is in the wilderness and it is a call to return to God to be ceremonially baptised in water as an act of cleansing.

John doesn’t speak as a voice with no authority. He blends his message within their famous prophet, Isaiah. He knows the Messiah is about to come. He knows he is the forerunner preparing the way. In quoting and referring to Isaiah 40 he can see that he is fulfilling this prophecy.

The prophecy is beautiful and powerful.

“Comfort, comfort my people …”

What I can remember from my bible college days is this: 39 chapters of severe judgment on God’s people and other nations. The northern part has already been taken into exile and the south (which is modern day Israel) is also receiving equal judgment for straying from walking with God. So by the time you finish reading chapter 39 it is a pretty gloomy picture. Until chapter 40 begins! With the tone being so different some have said it was authored by someone different. How could a person carry polar-opposite messages? I always found it nonsense and still do today. I believe Isaiah wrote the whole thing.

Basically the message is this, ‘speak kindly to Israel, the judgment is over, her sin has been removed, the payment has been made. Basically for the next 27 chapters it is all about salvation. The message of the whole book is this: God who judges Israel and the nations will soon bring salvation.

This is the gospel.

We don’t dismiss the Jew, telling them that they have missed their way and that all that is left is judgment. We don’t point out the terrors of Hitler and the suffering of today as signs of that judgment. We bring comfort. “God has seen your suffering but He has come with salvation.”

Neither do we dismiss the Gentile focusing only on their sinful lifestyle. We talk of a Saviour who comes to comfort, who comes to rescue, to lift them up, to comfort them and to restore them.

Salvation must be seen and offered to all. There is no one too far removed, too broken or sinful to find salvation.

Less judgment more gospel.

Getting sorted to meet Jesus

Luke 3: 5 “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.”

 

John uses Isaiah in preparation for the coming of Jesus with imagery all too familiar at that time, making the way for the king. It still happens today when escorting officials and royalty. A fleet of cars would go ahead and clear the road so that the important car can come through.

John calls people back to the wilderness, the place all too familiar in Israel’s story where they met with God and He provided and protected them. The message is symbolic:

The poor are to be lifted.

The proud brought down.

The dishonest changed.

The harsh becoming mild.

The Church needs to hear this loud and clear.

Let’s make it easier for people to meet Jesus not harder.

There are those who think they would not be welcome in Church because of their life and what has happened. They need to be given a hand and lifted up from that lowly place of unacceptance.

There are those who think themselves too lofty and full of their own success and righteous achievement. They need to be given a hand to bring them down into humility.

There are those whose lives are a web of brokenness, twisted stories and complexities. They need a hand to counsel, to hold accountable and to help them live simpler, uncomplicated lives.

There are those that are rude and harsh in their comments. They need a hand to smooth out their hurt or disappointments that cause such obstacles.

Everyone accepted and everyone helped to get ready to meet Jesus.

The punctuation of the wilderness

Luke 3: 4 “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

Luke is quoting from Isaiah 40:3 “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Can you see a difference?

The punctuation makes all the difference doesn’t it?

In Luke the focus is of John who is Isaiah’s lone voice in the wilderness with a message to prepare the way.

In Isaiah where John quotes from there is a voice instructing us that in the wilderness we need to prepare the way.

The punctuation marks have most probably been added centuries later and at times though they don’t change the text they can change its focus.

I don’t think the point is that John is a voice in the wilderness calling those outside the wilderness to repent.

The point is that John was quoting Isaiah in telling people to prepare a way in the wilderness for the Lord to come.

In a dramatic turnaround for the Israelites who had journeyed through the wilderness to the Jordan River and into the Promised Land he now calls for them to return to the wilderness at the Jordan. Generations later they were celebrating in many rituals the wilderness years and yet John sees they need to return to once again engage with God.

It is difficult for us Christians to appreciate the enormous impact the wilderness plays in a Jewish mind. The Christian runs from it for it is an enemy. For the Jew it was where God fed the people with miraculous food, where He gave them the instructions for living, where their culture was refined, He led them day and night with a cloud and a pillar of fire, He defended them from their enemies, He supplied water from the Rock, it was here where they truly experienced His Presence, in the wilderness.

They didn’t come out of the wilderness because they sinned and died there. Now John is calling them to return through Isaiah’s eyes because the Lord is going to appear again. This time they must repent and be forgiven of their sins and live.

It is in the wilderness where we discover His Presence, His Protection and His Provision.

If you describe your situation or your soul as a wilderness today then clear out the rubbish, make way, get ready for the Lord will come. He never leaves His children alone in the wilderness for them who want Him.