How the people longed for Messiah to come! They came eagerly and willingly to the Jordan to be baptized by John. This would be the first time that they had owned up to their individual sins, taking personal responsibility for them. This was so different from the annual Day of Atonement that they were so familiar with, a day of confession that was more of an event than a change of heart. It was their yearly spiritual 'bath' that made them feel better for a year. It was not heart change, for how often had they returned to their sins only to come to next year's Day of Atonement? Yes, this confession and baptism in the Jordan was a brand new thing, and as they came up out of the water, what zeal and great desire to LIVE RIGHT came up out of the water with them!
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to the Jordan as well, but with a completely different mindset and attitude. They too longed for the coming of Messiah, but for them, it was all about how they appeared. They neither came repenting, nor confessing their sins, nor desiring true heart and life change. You see, they believed they were already 'good to go.'
John's charge to them has a bit of a sting to it. "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance!" The sting is this: the command implies that they currently were not bearing the correct fruit So what is it that they were missing? Just what was the right fruit?
The fruit of repentance is always obvious, especially to others. It is the ACTION of turning around, turning away from the sin of which you are repenting. The fruit of repentance is the cessation of the sin! It is no repentance at all if you confess a sin to God and even others and then continue to walk in it. The fruit of repentance is living life without the sin. This is the fruit we are to be bearing!
Lord, I lay my heart bare before Your holiness, knowing the multitude of sin that resides within it. I confess that my sin is offensive to you, and that I am going the wrong way in so many areas of my life. But I don't want to stop at this confession of my sins, believing that is all I have to do. Confession and repentance go hand in hand. Speak to me and reveal the sin You wish for me to turn away from this month, as I begin the long process of rooting out all sin in my life. Reveal to me another one next month, so that at the end of this new year, I will be able to look back and see the mighty work You have accomplished in me. Holy Spirit, take my hand and guide me as I turn away and walk in a new direction. I surrender to You and the process of repentance, knowing I will never bear the right fruit of repentance unless You produce it in me. I am Yours; come do Your work in me. I desire to live a holy life before You.
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