Brood of Vipers (Repentance Defined)

Matt. 3:1-10
These verses show us a picture of a man dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt strapped around his waist, and eating locusts and wild honey in the wilderness preaching repentance to all who will listen. In this passage of scripture we can find a true definition of repentance. Too many times we as people equate repentance with just saying sorry. Repentance is more than just saying your sorry. Repentance- defined is to change the way you think and act.

This means that you change what you are doing. Not just trying to justify your actions. Sin is never to be taken lightly. Although we can never earn our salvation, our actions and thoughts should be changing. After all we know from the scripture that the wages of sin is death.

We see in this story, that as he is preaching, here comes out the Pharisees and Sadducees, these group of men who were coming out to be baptized by John, not because they were sorry for what they had done, but just to avoid being punished. For, he calls them a brood of vipers and asks them, "who warned you to flee from the wrath to come." They never really planned on doing anything differently.

Repentance is not just about saying sorry, only to avoid being punished or only saying that you're sorry because you were caught, or only trying to cover your bases, just in case. True repentance involves change, truly being sorry means you plan on never doing it again. Although sometimes we do fail. We never come to a place where we just say, "it's okay, after all I'm only human."

Repentance is a condition of the heart. To truly repent, you must, acknowledge that you have done something wrong. These Pharisees and Sadducees were being like a thief who says he is sorry, but walks away, and at the very first opportunity that comes along, he steals again. They had no intention of changing what they were doing. They were full of pride because, after all, they were Abraham's children.

After asking them about who warned them to flee the wrath to come. He tells them to bear fruit worthy of repentance. In other words, don't just say you're sorry, truly mean you're sorry. By changing what you're doing. You can't just say hey, I'm sorry, and then go out and live the life that you want to live. In Luke 3: 7-14 the author expanded on this whole idea of bearing fruit worthy of repentance.

He told the tax collectors to collect no more than what is appointed to you. He told the soldiers do not intimidate, accuse falsely, and to be content with your wages. If you have two tunics give to one who has none. If you have extra food do likewise. Repentance involves change!

Don't get me wrong, saying you're sorry is a good start, but it is not the end. Repentance is like when you're walking one direction, and then you turn and walk completely in the opposite direction. You're not just saying you're sorry, to avoid punishment. You are acknowledging that you were wrong, and that you desire to live differently, because of God's goodness toward you.

God's love and forgiveness should never be taken for granted. Never say it's okay to sin, because after all God will forgive me. Our attitude counts, God sees through to your heart. It may be easy to fool others, because they cannot see the condition of your heart, but God is never fooled. Don't just say you're sorry, change the way that you think and act, with God's help you can do it.

Until next time,

May, “the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance, and give you peace

Know and Trust

Matthew 4:6-7
The tempter tried to get Jesus to question who he was and who God was. Jesus' response to Satan's temptation to jump was it is written you shall not tempt the Lord your God. Quoting an old testament scripture about the time when the people of Israel had complained to Moses because there was no water. The Children of Israel had seen God do many miracles for them. He had called them and given them many promises. He had shown them that they were His people. He had shown them that He would lead them. They tempted God by complaining to Moses, and by questioning whether God was even with them.


Satan wanted Jesus to act in the same way. Bringing the If you are the son of God, then cast yourself down. And He wanted Him to cast himself down, because after all the scripture does say that the angels would catch Him. Or would they? Satan's tricks do not change, he wants us to question whether God's promises are real. Make us question if God will really honor his promises. Can you really trust God?

The Children of Israel were in a rough spot. They were in the desert and there was no source of water around them. They began to question whether God was even with them. They were desperate and they began to contend with Moses whether God was with them. They had forgotten about what God had just done for them. He parted the Sea, so they could cross on dry land, he had just made bitter water sweet so that the water was drinkable, he had sent them manna from heaven when they needed food to eat.

He had called them as His special people. Jesus was the Son of God, and He knew who He was. Satan wanted Him to question who He was and whether or not God would answer His promises. After all the promise of the angels catching Jesus was a promise that God had spoken, and Jesus knew that God would answer. He didn't have to do something stupid just to prove whether or not God would really do what He had promised.

God has given His people promises from the beginning of time. He has done many things for His people who trusted in Him. There are many testimonies that we need to remember and build ourselves up in, God is real and He really does care for us no matter what we have gone through, are going through, and are going to go through. We need to remember His promises for us. Remember that He has many thoughts for us, they are more than could be numbered, and they are all for our own good.

I am reminded of an old song, and yes I do believe in mixing some old with the new, I think it was called Trust and Obey. It said trust and obey for those no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. We need to know who we are in Christ and know that our Father will always keep His promises. Even when things don't look good, we serve a good God who loves us and will take care of us.

Until next time,


May, “the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance, and give you peace

God of Mercy

Matthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it was said, “you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy”. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “then you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what rewards have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than the others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Even when we hated him, he loved us and died for us. He gives, “good” even though we didn't deserve it or earn it. Good things sometimes happen to bad people, because of the goodness of God. That I know will drive some people nuts. Sometimes in our own self-righteousness, we want other people to pay for what they've done.

I mean, how come some people who could care less about God and other people seem to prosper sometimes. It is simply because of God's goodness and mercy. The same mercy, that was and is directed toward us, is also directed towards them, because the truth is, neither one of us deserved it. The wages of sin is death, and that I know is what I had on. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I praise God that he doesn't just give us what we deserve or are. Don't get me wrong, you cannot just live how you want to live and never expect judgment, but God is a long-suffering God. His mercy endures forever, which is a common theme throughout the Psalms. God is not sitting in heaven with the club just waiting for you to make the mistakes we can whack upside the head.

It is because of that goodness that we as Christians, as his children are called to love even in the very midst of hate. This is not very easy to do, I know, I am challenged, in my faith, every time I read of what others have endured for the cross of Christ, and still offered love to their enemies. It was that love offered to the ones who were torturing them, that drew others to Christ.

I like that phrase that was read above for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. I find it very comforting that the Father would offer me goodness when I don't deserve it. We serve a very good and faithful God, who is even faithful, when we are unfaithful.

In this passage of scripture it is because of God's mercy that he demonstrates towards us, that he wants us to demonstrate that same mercy to others. I find it is much easier to receive mercy than to give mercy. Most of us if we are honest would say the same! We need to change that as Christians, and we have an ability to change that because of the gift that we have been given through Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord for your mercy, that you've shown me and others around me. Thank you for extending grace when we need it most. Thank you for your abundant blessing. Help us to remember the sacrifice that you made for each and every one of us. Even for those who we would consider our enemies.

Until next time,

May, “the Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance, and give you peace

False Promises

Matt. 4:1-11
Satan showed Him all the land as far as the eye could see and promised to give Jesus ruler ship over it all, if he would just bow down and worship him. Satan promised temporary ownership of the world in exchange for worship.

Many people have fallen into this trap. Satan shows us the world, and says you can have it all, just follow me. He promises us fame, fortune, or anything else that would appeal to us, but it all ends in death.

All of the promises he makes are empty. Sin always leads to death. I think of the verse where Paul is talking about the internal war that wages within him. It is a war that is going on inside all of us, and the only victory we have is in Jesus.

How many of us, have sought after other things, that in the end meant nothing? How many have just had to have that new device, only to discard it months or even years later, without even taking it out of the box? How many have been addicted and trapped in sin, not being able to find your way out? Not wanting to do something, but never seeming to be able to resist, at the slightest temptation when it presents itself.

The thing that maybe felt so good for so short a time in the long term never lasted. You always needed more or the next hit one was just not good enough. The never ending cycle of trying to feed the beast that was on the inside of you, but never being fully satisfied, ever! The more you get, the more you want.

Sin always leads to death!

I believe that most sin seems good at first, it always appeals to some part of us, but sin’s end is always destruction. Jesus knew this; everything that this world may have to offer is only temporary and really not that good. God is always good; he always wants what is truly best for us!

For Jesus the answer was settled, what His Father had to offer, was far better than anything anyone else could ever offer. Jesus answered, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” As Christians we have the same ability.

James 4:7 tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” In verse 6 he encourages us that God, “gives grace to the humble.” Everything we need to live a victorious Christian life is provided to us by our Father.

We just need to know deep within our hearts…

• that God is a good Father
• that He has good plans for us
• that His thoughts toward us are always good

Because of all that we submit to the One, Who first loved us, and then tell the devil to take a hike, in the name of Jesus, our Savior. I know this seems easy to say and write, but not always easy to do. That is why I am so very grateful that God gives grace to the humble.

Until next time,

May, "The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."

Trusting in God

Matthew 4:1-11 Temptations continued...


Again notice that Satan comes with the same attack, “IF you are the son of God…then.” I think as believers we really need to have a greater understanding of who we are in Christ. The second time you can almost picture Satan spitting his accusation at Jesus, trying to throw in his little seed of doubt.

He goes on to basically trying to make Jesus question whether God was truly good and if He would honor His word. Put God to a test like the children of Israel had done in Exodus 17:1-7.

In Exodus 17:7 we are told that they, the children of Israel, had tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” They were faced with a circumstance that they did not understand. They were in a desert area and they had no water readily available. They seemed to have quickly forgotten how God had just done some pretty amazing things for them.

He parted the sea so they could escape Egypt, at Marah He made the bitter water sweet so they could drink it, and He had provided Bread from Heaven in the Wilderness of Sin. Instead of contending with Moses they should have been turning and trusting in God. Why do we as people can so easily forget God when we are faced with difficulties?

We need to be a people who remember the testimonies of God. We need to be rehearsing them over and over again, telling them to anyone who will listen. Reminding ourselves of what God did in the past for others and us personally. God did many good things in the Bible and the Good News is that He is still doing good things for us.

Jesus passed this test, because He already knew how Good God is and He didn’t need to test His Father. There was no question in His mind about His Father. He knew He was good He didn’t need to jump off a building to prove it.

I know that many of us are going through hard times. Unemployment is high, some are sick from different diseases, others have lost people who they loved we need to encourage one another. Remember how God provided for us in the past, share testimonies of when you were healed; listen to missionaries or others as they share stories of other people being healed; take the time to just listen and grieve with others who are hurting.

God is good and He really and wants to do good for us. He is the perfect Father.


May, "The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."

Knowing and Trusting

Matthew 4:1-11

This passage of scripture deals with trust and identity.  Jesus, in this passage, was lead into the wilderness, by the Holy Spirit, after being baptized by John in the river.  On a side note, from a human perspective, after a voice speaks from Heaven and a dove landing on your shoulder would seem to be the perfect time to launch out into ministry.  Jesus chose to follow the leading of the Spirit and head into the wilderness.

Once he arrived He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.  This would have been difficult for His human body.  Most of us struggle with fasting for a day or two, much less going for 40 days and nights without eating.  I can imagine His physical body would have been screaming for food.  After not eating for that long of a time His physical body would also be tired.

He was tired and hungry, two conditions that are not always conducive with rational thought or right decisions.  How many times have we used the excuse of just being too tired, when we do something we know we should not have done?  This is the backdrop for Jesus' temptation in the desert, by the devil.

I want to look at each temptation separately, with two possibly three different posts, so that we can learn to reject temptation when it comes.  The first temptation in vs. 3 was trying to make Jesus question His identity.  Satan starts out with the big IF, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread."  Notice he is challenging Jesus' identity, after all if Jesus were really God's son then commanding stones to become bread so that He could eat should be really easy. 

At the same time it also tempts Jesus to eat now instead of being obedient to God.  If Jesus was lead by the Spirit, then fasting must have been what He knew He was supposed to be doing.  Satan was also telling Jesus to take matters into His own hands, instead of trusting in His Father, and then eat.

First of all, Jesus knew exactly who He was.  He knew He had the ability to do what satan was asking, Jesus does not even address that question in His answer.  Just like Jesus, we need to know who we are in Christ.  The Bible tells us we are God's children, the bride of Christ, His friend, His beloved, His chosen, and too many other things to list here.  God loves us, His thoughts toward us are more than the sand in all the seas.  Our identity as believers is wrapped up in Christ and what He did for us.

Do not let anyone tell you differently!  The second issue was a matter of trusting God enough to obey,   knowing that His Father had His best interests at heart.  Jesus said, "It is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Obedience to God was more important than food.  He already knew that God knew he would need food to survive.

In fact later on in scripture Jesus told His disciples not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear, because God already understood that they needed those things to survive.  He also pointed out several examples in nature that God provided for and that we were more important than any of those things.

Through this first temptation we learn that we must know who we are, in Christ.  We also have to bury the knowledge of who God is deep down inside of us.  God really is a good God.  He really does have what is best for us.  Many times we may not understand why things happen, but we can trust in who God is.

For now that is enough to really chew on.  Thank you for reading, and may your knowledge of God grow deeper.

May,


"The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."