In Keeping With Repentance

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE

Matt 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.

NIV

Why would John call those Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers? What is known about vipers is that they are one of the deadliest snakes that lived in Israel. From the account in the very beginning when God said the serpent was craftier and any of the other animals would imply that John was calling them out for being cunning and crafty, but also one of the most dangerous venomous people in Israel. They professed their religious acts but according to the words of John, they did not produce the fruit in keeping with repentance. What good is saying they are children of Abraham if they did not believe God as Abraham did which God declared to him as righteousness. The Pharisees and Sadducees tried to attain righteousness through the observation of the law. This was not just the law given to Moses, but of all the rules they had added. We can be sure there have been books written about all the aspects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes as well as some of the other smaller sects within Jewish culture at the time of just before Jesus arrived. But the point here is about producing fruit in keeping with repentance. Although we were not born by natural methods into the family of Abraham, we can claim to be of his line because we believe God, except we believe through Jesus Christ and not through the law. Abraham lived before the law was given, so they could not claim in all reality that he was their father, for they did not live by faith, but by works. So, then there is something we should be doing in keeping with repentance and that produces fruit. Of course, we also know that the fruit of the Spirit is not us producing it, but the Spirit who dwells within us who produces that fruit in our lives. Still, we need to allow the Spirit to work within because we have repented of our sin, our self-driven life. If there is no evidence of repentance in our life, could we say that we might be in danger of being cut down and thrown into the fire? There must be evidence of repentance. We must produce good fruit, and the implication is the fruit of the Spirit, but at the same time it could also be a fruit that appears like a life that has been turned around and one that believes God and lives accordingly. If we use Abraham as an example, then we must be willing to sacrifice our most precious one to God. Abraham loved his son above all else for God told him he would have a son and through him, he would be the father of many nations. Abraham was willing to kill his son because God told him to. We cannot sacrifice anyone else, but only ourselves. Paul tells us to offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. This is our spiritual act of worship. This is being a descendent of Abraham in a truer sense than those brood of vipers claimed. A viper only brings death to its victim.  Jesus brings life to those who believe, those who repented and live by faith and not by works.

Confessing Sin

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

CONFESSING SIN

Matt 3:4-6

4 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. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

NIV

There is such a great debate and a far difference of opinions regarding this baptism of so many people in the Jordan River. Much of this stems from the denominational backgrounds of the interpretation of this word, baptize. On the one side, there is the thought that John immersed all these people, on the other side he merely sprinkled them as in a ceremonial sense. There is the question rather both men and women came, and if both walked fully clothed in the Jordon and were immersed, as with what occurs today in some denominations. This is to follow the idea of complete burial and resurrection from the dead, that is the complete forgiveness from sin, and its penalty of death, raising as a new creature in Christ. There is evidence of such type of ceremony for a pagan becoming a Jew, but this has nothing to do with that, for this is people confessing their sins, Jews confessing their sins, making a straight path for the Lord in their hearts. People were understanding John to say the time of the Messiah was at hand, and they should prepare themselves for his arrival. We do not know how many people came to him. We do not know exactly how he baptized them, whether by immersion or by sprinkling them and that does not matter whatsoever, although we are sensing even though it seems strange they would be immersed in all their clothing and it would be otherwise not modest in the presence of both men and women to disrobe, we think they had to be immersed, as all need to be immersed in Christ. It also makes more sense this is a manner in which we follow Christ in burial, a mere sprinkling does not imply burial, however, ceremonially it could. But the point is still the same in that the people understood they need to get ready for the coming of the Messiah. We cannot get ready for he has already come, but as he comes into our lives, we do need to confess our sin and be baptized as Jesus was by John in the Jordan. Without the confession of sin, there is no forgiveness of sin. This is the main truth we must always be aware of in our lives. This is not a one-time confession and then we are all set up, finished, and never in need of confessing again for we no longer have any sin. How bizarre to even think that. Sure, we have left that sinful life behind, and we have changed our ways, for the most part, but what about those attitudes of envy, jealously, or not forgiving someone who hurt our feelings, of course, that would then mean that we think more highly of ourselves then we should, which is sin that needs to be confessed. What about the sin of gossip, or resentment, or being judgmental? There are so many attitudes and behaviors each day that would need confessing. Let us always be aware of the Lord and of our need to confess. We say it everything we pray the Lord’s prayer, forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us.

Make a Straight Path

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

MAKE A STRAIGHT PATH

Matt 3:1-3

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 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.'"  

NIV

In those days doesn’t really do it justice for Matthew has just skipped some thirty years of time in the life of Jesus. However, we do know from the gospel of Luke that John the Baptist was born about the same time or just a few months or so ahead of Jesus. John’s birth was a miracle as it was foretold to Zechariah by a messenger of God in answer to his prayer. But He was struck dumb until the birth of his son and as he was told, he named him John. We are going to get to how John looked later and his dietary intake, but for now let us consider that he had a special mission, one that God foretold hundreds of years ago through the prophet Isaiah. John’s call upon his life, the very purpose of his life was to be a voice calling people to repent and declaring or preparing the way for the Lord, telling people to make straight paths for him. That had to mean to make a straight path in their hearts for Jesus, for that is where he needs to be in every person’s life. We cannot make a path in this world for Jesus, although in some sense we can make a straight path for him by declaring the message of the gospel. We can also make a straight path for him within our own hearts. There are too many in this world who have established crooked and twisted paths full of deception and deceit. But we have been called to make a straight path, both in this world and in our own hearts. John was just one voice and that is all we have just one voice. John used his voice to prepare the way for the Lord. Should we not also use our voice to prepare a way for the Lord? Can we just live out our days in selfish ambitions? Can we just live our daily lives thinking of simply our needs, our self-fulfillment, and our plans for our golden years? How can we not be about the business of our Lord, saving people from their sins? How can we sit by while people we know are on that wide crooked, twisted road to hell, when there is a straight path, although it is narrow, right to the gates of heaven? Still, we are not all called to preach the word to the unsaved. Surely God has brought up evangelists over the years for that purpose. However, if we think of our heart only, then we need to be aware the path is straight, or if it has a few twists and turns within. Have we put up any barriers at all? Are we trying to hide away some areas of our heart from Jesus, although that would seem difficult as he knows our heart better than we do? However, should we not make straight the way for him into our hearts, and perhaps we should also be making headway in this world for the Lord. When we use that definition of grace, as we have, being the divine influence on our heart and how that is reflected in our lives, we must understand that as we reflect Jesus to the world, we are making straight a way for the Lord. The Apostle Paul also noted that we are always being made in the likeness of Jesus with ever-increasing glory, that is we are always increasing in reflecting his glory, each day we reflect more and more. By doing this we are making straight a path for the Lord both in our heart and in this world.

Ordered Footsteps

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

ORDERED FOOTSTEPS

Matt 2:19-23

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

NIV

Everything is going exactly according to the will of God, for He is making sure that it does. The truth is that man lives his days each at a time according to his own plans, but God orders his footsteps. At least that is what Solomon, the wisest of all men, wrote in his proverb. He knew that man always wants to man his own plan for life. God also has a plan for our lives, but once again we know from our own experience that God does not force his way upon us even when we are living according to our plan. Joseph and Mary heard the voice of God telling them to get up and escape to Egypt and they did. But now they are living each day like any normal married couple with a child, however in a land where they are foreigners. However, in those days perhaps that was not so uncommon, just as it is today. Many people of many nations live right here in our neighborhood. The point is Joseph and Mary had settled into a daily routine knowing this is where they were supposed to be. However, God was not finished with His plan for them and sent another messenger to appear to Joseph in a dream. We wonder why God sends his messenger to appear in a dream to Joseph. Surely angels have appeared in person before. According to Luke, an angel appeared to Zechariah and to Mary, but for Joseph always in a dream. Isn’t that just like God to do things however he sees fit, rather than allowing man to put Him in some box, saying that God always does this or that? Nevertheless, Joseph responds and packs up the family, and heads back to Israel. However, not back to Judea, their hometown, but because of the instructions of God, Joseph went on to the town of Nazareth, as it was prophesied. Once again, God was ordering his footsteps. We live our lives each day for the most part according to our own plans. It may even be doubtful that we consult God for every choice we face. We might well simply make many of our own choices in life and only include God as for spiritual implications, as making sure we do not go to hell but have a free ride in the air to heaven. Other than that, we live each day according to our plans. We notice how many people brag about their lives, their choices, their plans, what they have done, and are doing, using a multitude of media platforms, and rarely do we see anything that includes the Lord in those comments of life. Man making his own way in life, but as with Joseph and Mary, God ordered their footsteps and if we spend any time listening, we will hear His voice ordering our steps as well. We are right where He wants us and right here, we stay until He orders us elsewhere. We are doing exactly as He has ordered and will continue to do just that until He orders otherwise. He may appear to us in a dream, He may stand before us, he may speak to us in a still small voice, He may speak to us through the Spirit who dwells within, He may use the voice of a person, a prophetic word spoken that pierces our heart. But we can be sure He will speak and He will order our footsteps.

War Against Evil

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

WAR AGAINST EVIL

 

Matt 2:16-18

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."  

NIV

To be outwitted is bad enough, but to be outwitted by three foreigners was enough to make him furious enough to order a mass murdering of baby boys. This is pure evil personified. This does tell us that perhaps by the time the Magi did arrive in Bethlehem that Jesus was no longer an infant wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger. We learn this because Herod had all boys two years and younger killed, although, we cannot be sure how long it took him to figure out he had been outwitted. Nevertheless, this also fulfilled the words of the prophet, so we must also conclude all this was within the foreknowledge of God. Surely it was not God’s plan for all those boys to be killed, but it was within his foreknowledge, which tells us that man can carry out his free will for evil and is not stopped by God. God knows what man will do, and allows man to carry out his plans, even if it is not within the plan of God. The fact remains each person must come to God willingly and submit himself, offer himself to God forfeiting self-will that is bent on evil. We also know that all of man’s heart is deceitfully wicked always bent toward evil all the time. Herod is proof enough of that. This is a lifelong pursuit to wage that war within between listening to the inner voice bent toward evil and listening to the voice of the Spirit leading us into all truth. If we think we do not have that war, then we must conclude we think more highly of ourselves than we should, in fact, even better than the Apostle Paul, for he confessed that war that waged within him. He said that which he did not want to do, he did, and that which he wanted to do, he did not. He said that he found this law at work, that when he wanted to do good, that evil was right there with him. This is our battle. We cannot think there is no evil at all left within us. Certainly, we would never have all the boys under two killed in a town, but what about not forgiving someone. What about holding onto anger, jealously, or envy. What about slander, which is gossip? How about this feeling hurt, when someone offends or does not do what we think they should? What about this idea of our desires, our wanting what we want when we want it? Is there not a war waging within us between doing good and doing evil? Can we say our heart is absolutely pure all the time, without any impure thoughts at all? Surely we are not as evil as Herod was, but we have to be truthful with ourselves and see there can be evil lurking within and we need to be on guard all the time against it. God knows our hearts better than we do. Just as he knew Herod’s heart before he committed that murderous crime, he knows the choices we will make throughout our lives, whether we listen to the voice within us or the voice of the Spirit. God does not make us do or stop doing anything. He offers the path, the light to see that path, and it is up to us to either stay on the path or wander off from time to time. Let us pray we spend more time on than off that path. Therefore God also offers his armor, so we might take our stand in the war against evil.

Get Up and Go

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

GET UP AND GO

Matt 2:13-15

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."  

NIV

Again, we have two stories here, but they cannot be investigated without each other. First, we have the story of Joseph and the angel, second, we have the story of God and Hosea. It is interesting that now Jesus has been born, that God honors Joseph as the head of the family although Joseph has no biological claim in this family. The angel could have appeared to Mary or both Joseph and Mary, but God honored Joseph and gave him the dream, giving him specific instructions and the reason for them. It is also interesting that the messenger of God told Joseph, “Get up”, or “Wake up and get out of here now”. This is the Greek word that means to arise, wake up from sleep. Dreams can be so real sometimes, and they remain in our dream world, but here it was more than just a dream, it was God intervening and made Joseph wake up, get up and take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt in the middle of the night. It is interesting whether Joseph told Mary about his dream, as he woke her up in the middle of the night, telling her to get dressed, get all the presents packed up, get Jesus wrapped up, we are leaving for Egypt right now because Herod is going to search for Jesus to kill him. What was the response of Mary? How did she react to this news in the middle of the night? We know she did everything according to the instructions of Joseph. She has had a messenger of God visit her and she knows when that happens, it means truth, and thus we must believe she was more than ready to get up take Jesus and run far away, right away. It is also interesting that God makes it clear as to where they were to go. This is our story as well. We should not assume that where we go, what we do, is our choice, that “free will” covers the whole of our lives. We certainly have been given the freedom to choose to follow Jesus or to not follow him. Each person must make the choice. But once we have decided to follow Jesus then we must also believe that He leads us, and not just in paths of righteousness, but he gives us instructions and the reason to go to a place, to live in a particular city, or town, even the very neighborhood, and personally speaking, even the very house, and he has done that twice now. It is as he said, “Get up and flee to here”. Joseph did exactly as the Lord told him and left and stayed in Egypt until Herod died. The best guess by our scholars is just a guess. We know that Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign, but no one knows when he began that reign, so the number of years they spent in Egypt is unknown. Nevertheless, it was all in accordance with God's plan as the prophet Hosea was given those words hundreds of years before. Again, we come down to the sovereignty of God. Again, we conclude that we must always be aware of the voice of God giving us instructions and yes, even the reason for them. What we learn here is that God does not expect mindless obedience, but he wants us to know the fullness of his truth, His reasoning, and His divine plan for us so that we can act with complete confidence in accordance with His will. When we hear from God, we get up and go, but not before we hear from Him.

Living for Good not for Evil

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

LIVING FOR GOOD NOT FOR EVIL

Matt 2:7-12

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

NIV

Now it is time to look at the story of Herod. We could spend a great deal of time as to all the Herods that have been king, and how each of them served, whether they were good or evil. This Herod was evil all the way. How deceptive he was, pretending that he would want to worship this king of the Jews when all he wanted was the location so that he could send his army to murder this little child because he would be a threat to his rule over Judea. How wealth and power, which usually go hand in glove, can corrupt a man’s heart. Jesus made it clear the man cannot serve both God and wealth, although the word was money, however, the Greek word is of Aramaic origin and it means confident i.e. wealth personified. That describes the life of Herod to a tee, as he lived as any king would, in the abundance of wealth. Jesus also said that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. When we put our trust in money, we become too close to the culture of the world, storing up wealth for self-gratification. What security should we place our trust in? It would make perfect sense to put all our trust in God, but we also want to make sure we have enough money so that someday, at whatever age we decide, we can stop working and do nothing, but that which pleases our own interests. That really sounds bizarre when we put it in words. Herod had no intentions of giving up his kingdom, his wealth, his power to some upstart kid that was supposed to be the new king of the Jews. He was even plotting evil because his own interests were at stake. We wonder if because of the words of Jesus, which Matthew recorded for us as we will get to in chapter 6, that if we place too much of our trust in money that it is evil because we are being too concerned about our own interests. Even this whole idea of storing up for our retirement is a culture-driven concept, rather than a God-driven one. We merely have to search the words of Jesus to find all the references to the evil of trusting in wealth and storing it up. What are we supposed to do? Is retirement culture or God-based? Did not God tell Adam he had to work by the sweat of his brow all the days of his life? What does that mean? Are we exempt from that because we no longer are a descendent of Adam, but now a descendent of who, Abraham? He had wealth, but he was required to offer his only son to God, and he was going to do it because he trusted God more than all his wealth. It just seems we may have this concept of money all wrong, or maybe it does not matter at all if we are willing to give it all to the Lord, and not keep it selfishly for our own interests. Herod was always looking out for his own interests and that made him evil in the sight of God. Let us look past the cultural influences on our lives and seek first the kingdom of God. That is we need to put the kingdom of God first, above all else in our lives and He will take care of us. Then we will live for good and not for evil.