Monday 2 Dec 2013

Monday Reading: Matthew 3:7-9

Key Verse: Matthew 3:9
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Devotion:
What makes you a Christian? Is it the fact that you celebrate Christmas each year? Is it the fact that you go to a church service most Sundays? Is it the fact that you go to mass as often as you can? Is it the fact that you read your bible or daily devotions regularly? Is it the fact that you give money to the church every week? Is it the fact that you work for a church? Is it the fact that you have learned many bible verses and can quote them? Is it the fact that you passed exams to say that you can teach others about God? Is it the fact that you have been baptised?

John made it quite clear to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming forward to be baptised that they needed more than this! He warned them that they could say all that they wanted and could have all sorts of learned qualifications and even be baptised, but unless they had asked Christ to forgive them of their sins, they had nothing! He was warning them of the things to come because Christ was not well known at this stage; but the warning was dire. They needed to believe in Jesus or lose their souls…

Christ backed these words up by telling us that He was the Messiah that had come to save the world and that people would need to believe that He was and is this Messiah. The religious people at the time had all manner of religious acts that they had to perform in order to make them religious, but no acts to bring them to repentance. Christ simply wants us to know that we have broken God’s laws and that we need to come to Him humbly and ask for His forgiveness. Without that forgiveness we will not have our sins washed away and we will be sending ourselves to hell.

Yes that is as serious as it can get! John was not telling them that if they were good enough they could get to heaven. He did not tell them they could get to heaven by doing good things or by being baptised. He did not tell them that being in church was good enough. He told them that they needed to believe in Jesus and ask for His forgiveness. It is Jesus that has given His life for our sins. We need to believe that and recognise that by bringing our sins to Him and asking Him for forgiveness. Then we can be called a Christians!

Points to Ponder:
Do you actually believe what Jesus did for you?

Have you asked Him for forgiveness?