ESOCS Devotional 3 August 2024 – Live the Life of a Repented Christian
MEMORY VERSE: “Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins….” Luke 3:8. GNV
TEXT: LUKE 3:1-14
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not [c]intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
The first step to be taken by a sinner is to turn away from his sins and be baptized; and God will forgive his sins. This is the gospel message as taught by John the Baptist (Luke 3:3). Upon forgiveness, man is set to walk on the straight and smooth paths of life with God.
As many as turn to God with a sincere heart, confessing Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour and believing in their hearts that God sent Jesus Christ for our salvation, will receive the salvation of God in Jesus Christ. (Luke 3:6-7). Salvation comes in the form of a spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit.
The salvation of God in Christ Jesus does not leave us weak or vulnerable to sin. It builds us and makes us strong enough to overcome sin. (1 John 5:4; 5). It enables us live righteously as children of God. John, on the basis of this truth, counselled all those that responded to his call for repentance: “Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins….”
Those who have received salvation in Christ must be able to produce the fruit of salvation (Luke 3:10-14). The Bible says, “… those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). A mango tree cannot produce yam. By the fact of receiving the salvation of Christ, it means that you are born of the Spirit. Righteousness would be seen visibly in your daily life and relationships. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control …”
Every worker receives his wages. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life …”
- What are you working for? Eternal life or eternal damnation?
- Father, give me the ability to produce fruits of the Spirit, while I live, in Jesus name. Amen
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-12; Daniel 3:1-18; Luke 3:1-14; Acts 14:1-End
ESOCS Devotional 3 August 2024
