‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
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? 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. 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.” Luke 3:4-7 NIV
Sometimes everything has to be leveled, the valleys filled in and the crooked made straight. Sometimes our preconceived ideas of our own goodness need to be re-evaluated. What does it mean to produce fruit? Does it mean to fill up our barns, to fill up our churches? Does it mean to grow big and fat and wealthy? John knew that Jesus was coming and that the people, even those who belonged to God because they were of the lineage of Abraham, were not ready. Note to self: 'Et tu?'
2010 Post - Luke 3-5: Ministry Begins with Temptation
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