Repent and Change!

For Friday, December 29, 2023:

Luke 3:8a NLT: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

John the baptist was a strange one indeed! He lived in the wilderness, ate locusts and wild honey, and wore rough clothes made of camel hair. He told people to be baptized in the Jordan River as a sign that they had turned from sin. The thrust of his message was to repent and return, for the kingdom of God was at hand. After all, Jesus would be coming soon! John didn’t think this up by himself. He was commissioned by actions of the Lord himself.

John not only baptized people in water; he also baptized them with fire, meaning that following repentance and water baptism, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

In this scripture, John chastises those who were baptized, but then returned to their old lives. Friends, you can’t declare loyalty to Jesus but go on sinning. Good and evil cannot coexist! Therefore a new Christian should exhibit a radical transformation in their behavior. When someone becomes a Christian, they should change for the better, a lot better! A baptized Christian is now part of a unique group, set apart from the rest of the world. At the time, they’d be joining followers of Jesus, but eventually they’d become part of “The Way,” the first church, the worshiping believers. It’s like if we joined a new church with rigid standards. Believers needed to adopt Christ-like behavior.

The Way shared their resources and loved everyone. Their church grew by attraction. People liked what they saw and wanted to become a part of it. Churches should be like that nowadays, but unfortunately many aren’t. Every church claiming to follow Jesus should show agape love to everyone!

See you at church!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship