Skip to main content

Matthew 3-4


Were you surprised by John the Baptist calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers? In today’s vernacular you might say he called them a bunch of scumbags. These religious leaders had the power to make trouble for John, but he didn’t hold back. John was the forerunner of the Messiah and he didn’t compromise on the message that people needed to hear…that they needed to repent for the kingdom of heaven was near.

John knew the Pharisees and Sadducees were strict about keeping the law of Moses and observing their traditions. He also knew they were hypocrites who hadn’t come with repentance in their hearts. John boldly threw in their faces that he wouldn’t baptize them.

Additionally, he let them know it wouldn’t do them any good to claim their relationship with Abraham to save them from the coming judgement. Salvation is not given as a birthright to anyone, not even the Jews who are God’s chosen people.

Salvation comes only through faith in God’s son, Jesus Christ, who died to take the punishment for our sins on himself. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This message is just as true today as it was when John preached in the Desert of Judea calling people to repentance and baptizing them.

Please God, may we have John’s boldness to share the message of salvation with all who will listen.
~Elsie Shepherd

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 27-28

There are some very interesting developments in Acts 27.  One of the most amazing is to see the quick rise of Paul’s status on the ship – the meteoric rise from low man on the totem pole to chief of the whole tribe.   In v. 1 we find that of the 276 people on board the ship heading for Rome, Paul was numbered among the prisoners.  He was near the bottom of the barrel.  When we approach the end of the chapter we find that Paul has now virtually taken over the leadership of the boat.  He has practically been given command.  The others are looking to him for inspiration and leadership.   From prisoner to commander in a short voyage.  How did it come about?  It came because Paul demonstrated leadership in the storm.  Everyone else was looking at the storm.  He was looking at God.   The child of God, no matter where we find him, can be master of the situation.  Circumstances should never affect our confidence an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew 23-24

Have you ever asked yourself the question…I wonder when Jesus will return? No matter where you fall in your view of End Times, there is going to be a day when Jesus comes back. When will it be? Today, tomorrow, next week or 50 years from now, we do not know. What we do know is that man is not able to predict the exact time that it will happen. The question that we should be asking is do we believe that Jesus is coming back? If the answer is yes, then the follow-up is “am I truly living like it could be today?” Because if we do, it changes the way we live our lives. Matthew 24:44  (ESV) Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Are you ready? Are you living like Jesus could come back today?  May God grant us the wisdom, strength, courage and love to live like Jesus could come back today. ~Tony Murrin
Post a Comment
Read more

Luke 2-3

Merry Christmas!  Oops.  It’s a little late to be sharing Christmas greetings.  But here’s some good news.  Only 310 days until next Christmas.  In the meantime let’s look at one way we can get the most out of the 320 days.  Let’s see if we can learn a lesson from the shepherds that will help us move forward the way God wants us to. The shepherds weren’t going anywhere until they dealt with their fear.  Luke 2:8-9 tells us they were afraid on the first Christmas night.  In fact they were filled with fear.  The KJV states it in a memorable way – “They were sore afraid.” It was not just the angel that terrified them but also the visible manifestation of the glory of God. What was the glory of the Lord?  It must have been a superb light show.  The glory shone around them – a dazzling specter of light.  It was infinitely better than a meteor shower. But God’s angel had good news of great joy.  The news would calm th...
Post a Comment
Read more