Luke 3:7-18 (NRSV)
Read Luke 3:7-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Verse 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Verse 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Verse 10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" Verse 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Verse 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" Verse 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Verse 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
Verse 15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, Verse 16John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Verse 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Verse 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Devotion
The promises made to Zechariah in Luke now come to fruition. In John’s first recorded words we soon realize that the proclamation of Gabriel is coming true. Zechariah’s response is disbelief in the good news: “How will I know that this is so?” He becomes mute until the day he is to name his son. His tongue is freed when he realizes that God’s promises were not just for him but for the redemption of all Israel. The response to John’s first words is not, “How can this be?” but “What shall we do?” We are invited to live in the belief that God keeps promises. We do not wonder if they will come to fruition but ponder what we will do when that happens.
Prayer
God, you kept your word to those who went before in faith. Help us to live in trust and hope that those promises are for us as well. Amen.