Matthew 3: 1-12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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. And do not think that 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. 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.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
A Thought
The prophet Isaiah foretold of one who would be a voice to warn people to confess their sins and flee the coming wrath. This scripture was fulfilled with John the Baptist who came preaching repentance from sin, to be baptized that all were guilty of sin. John was only a prophet making the way for people to receive one more powerful than he, who could baptize them with power of the Holy Spirit that would lead them to changed lives. Jesus Christ came to earth to give forgivness to all who will repent (to change with remorse our way of thinking that will change our heart in the way we live), be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit that will give us power to live godly producing good fruit. Jesus the Christ is coming back again to rid the earth of all sin. The choice is ours we can either choose to receive Jesus Christ to forgive us our sins or either be warned of his coming wrath when he will completely destroy all sin.
Our Prayer
Father we repent of all our sin against you. Fill us with your Holy Spirit daily that we will be changed by reading and living your word. Help us to center our lives around serving you and others in truth and in love. Lead us to tell others about how you sent your son to die for the price of all sin. It is only in repentance that we might be brought back into fellowship with you. Come Holy Spirit, come. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
