Wednesday, September 21
Change
Scripture: Isaiah 41-42, Psalm 110, Matthew 3
Matthew 3:8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.
Observation
John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees to repent…and produce fruit consistent with repentance. It’s not enough to say you’re sorry or you’re wrong—you need to change your behavior, your actions.
The word “repent” translates the Greek metanoeo, which is literally a change of mind, but which came to mean “to change one’s way of life as a result of a complete change of thought and attitude.”
Real repentance is a change of life, the way we think, behave and live.
Application
The idea of “lament” has become more popular in Christian circles, and it’s a biblical idea and good. But I’ve been in too many meetings where we’re called to lament—to feel and express genuine sorrow for our sin—but it ends there.
Many years ago, we held a large reconciliation service in the Spokane Arena and white pastors signed a pledge to end racism and work for equity and justice. It was all well-intentioned and sincere. Lots of genuine lament. But nothing changed. We walked out of the arena and back to our way of life with no discernible change in relationships between white and black and brown Christians in our community.
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.
Prayer: Lord, show me when I need to change, and help me to repent fully and genuinely—not just in my mind but in my behavior too.