Passages: Matthew 3:7-10

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

In Matthew 3:7-10, John the Baptist is speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees about producing fruit in keeping with repentance. 

 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.

If we look at verse 8, John the Baptist called people to more than words of ritual; he told them to change their behavior. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" means that God looks beyond our words and religious activities to see if our conduct backs up what we say and he judges our words by the actions that accompany them. Do your actions match your words?

Just as a fruit tree is expected to bear fruit, God's people should produce a crop of good deeds. God has no use for people who call themseleves Christians, but do nothing about it. Like many people in John's day who were God's people in the name only, we are of no value if we are Christians in name only. If other can't see our faith in the way we treat them, we may not be God's people at all.

God's message hasn't changed since the Old Testament - people will be judged for their unproductive lives. God calls us to be active in our obedience. John compared people who claim they believe God, but don't live for God to unproductive trees that will be cut down. To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve and help others and share our faith. How productive are you for God?

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it,  you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Passages: 1 Chronicles 12:18-22 (NIV)

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,
If we look at 1 Chronicles, David is no the run from Saul. Now, Saul was upset about David, because God's plan was to make David king of Israel. David had been on the run from sometime hiding in places to keep from Saul killing him. In 1 Chronicles 12:18-22 tells us that the Spirit came upon Amasai. Amasai was a Levite and ancestor of Samuel and a king of the Amalekites, taken prisoner by Saul and killed by Samuel.

In 1 Chronicles 12:18-22 reads:

18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

19 Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.

In the end, David "had a great army, like the army of God." Men were drawn to David by the reputation of his great warriors, the news of their victories and their desire to see God's will done in the making David king.

People are often drawn to a great cause and the brave, determined people who support it. As believers, we the greatest cause - the salvation of mankind. If we are brave, determined and faithful, others will be drawn to work with us.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you’re missing out on God’s blessings. To become a child of God is simple, just say this simple prayer:

Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite you to come into

my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as my LORD and Savior, Amen.

If you prayed to God that prayer and sincerely meant it,  you are now a child of God and sealed forever. Your name is written in the Book of Life and never can be erased.

Go in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ.