What Jesus Did : Luke 3:7-9 - No False Pride in Our Heritage
by Phil Ware
No False Pride in Our Heritage - Luke 3:7-9
People came to be baptized by John. John said to them, "You are like poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's anger that is coming? You must do the things that will show that you have really changed your hearts and lives. And don't think that saying, 'Abraham is our father' will help you. I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks here! The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not make good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
So often we want to take the efforts of those around us, and those who have gone before us, and claim them as our own. Faith is aided by a long heritage, but all genuine faith is always first generation faith—no one can believe for us. Many in Jesus' day wanted to claim lineage, race, and heritage as their spiritual guarantee. John reminds all people of all races for any time that heritage and pedigree don't mean a thing unless our faith is genuine. Let's show the genuineness of our faith in what we do, not in who we claim as our parents or what religious group we claim as our home.
Today's Prayer
Father, may my faith be my own and may it be as real in my daily behavior as it is in my heart and my heritage. Empower me to live out the faith I profess. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
It was the 15th year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod's brother, the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At that time, a command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah. John was living in the desert. John went through the whole area around the Jordan River. He told the people {God's message}. John told them to be baptized to show that they wanted to change their hearts and lives. Then their sins would be forgiven. This is like the words written in the book of Isaiah the prophet : "There is a person shouting in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled. And every mountain and hill will be made flat. Roads with turns will be made straight. And rough roads will be made smooth. Every person will know about the salvation of God!'" People came to be baptized by John. John said to them, "You are like poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's anger that is coming? You must do the things that will show that you have really changed your hearts and lives. And don't think that saying, 'Abraham is our father' will help you. I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks here! The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not make good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."-- Luke 3:1-9 (ERV)
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