Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 4, 2025
Matthew 3:7-12
7 Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? 8 Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. 9 And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. 11 I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.”
Good Morning. The winter temps are upon us!
Isn’t it interesting that the same Pharisees and Sadducees who would later refuse to see Jesus as the Messiah came to be baptized by John? John spelled out for them what they needed to do and what would happen to those who did not change their ways.
When we accept Christ, it is much more than saying words. Words are easy! It is the producing fruit that shows we have changed our hearts and lives, and that is hard. Too many times, we seem to try to be two people contained in one body. On Sundays and other church gatherings, we are Christians, but then other times, we become one of the crowd trying to fit in.
We mustn’t lose sight that it was the crowd who cheered Jesus upon his arrival in Jerusalem and days later were the group who called for his crucifixion. We must make a choice! We can’t stand with one foot mired in our earthly ideals, and the other foot pointed toward heaven.
This choice is not new. Moses reminded the Israelites of the choice that they had to make.
Deuteronomy 30: 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
God allows us to choose life or death: blessings or curses!
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You are gracious and merciful. You don’t force your will upon us, but let us choose. Help us see the right path. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Plant both feet on the path of righteousness!
Choose life with God! Pastor Liz
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