What's Your "Thing"?

Today’s Journal Reading
Genesis 6-8
Luke 3

Luke 3:10-14
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

Observation:
John is preaching to anyone who will listen about repentance and that being from the seed of Abraham is not enough – there has to be a change of heart that then produces fruit. The crowd asks how to do this – and John responds to be kind each other, help each other (feed and clothe those who have less than you). He tells the tax collectors to be honest in the amounts they are to collect. He tells the soldiers to not exchange money for protection and make false accusations; but to be satisfied with their pay. Many were baptized, and the crowd wondered if John was the Messiah. But he tells them he baptizes in water, but there is one coming who will baptize in Spirit.

Application:
Those listening to John are hearing harsh words, and they questioned how they could live out this concept of repentance and bearing fruit in their lives. I don’t know if they were sarcastically asking him, or if they were sincerely asking him, but either way, I find it interesting that John answers the questions for each group differently. He went right for the very thing that defines who they are.
1) The crowd – based on the accounts written in Matthew, the group consisted mostly of Pharisees and Sadducees. These groups considered themselves to be better than most, and had money and power and used it over those who did not. The fact that John told them to share their extra tunics and share their extra food with those who have less was like a slap in the face to them.
2) The Tax Collectors – It was common practice for tax collectors to take more than what was required and pocket the extra cash for themselves. Again, John addressed the very thing that would slap them up side the head.
3) The Soldiers – Soldiers were not paid well, so they used their position and “military” power to extort money in exchange for “protection”. They would stir up trouble by falsely accusing someone, and use that to their advantage. Their motivation? To supplement their low wages, make up the difference in money they lost gambling, drinking, etc. because they were bored occupying a region, not fighting a battle somewhere. They felt justified in their behavior – and bam! John slaps them too!

Each group had their own “thing” that prevented them from getting to that repentant state, and producing the fruit of a changed heart. John was able to get to the core of what needed to change in these people. All of them (and us) should share their extra clothing and food with those in need, be fair and honest in our dealings with others, not extort money or make false accusations for our gain and be content with the wages we accepted and agreed upon. But each of those things, held a different weight/meaning depending on who you were, which made it more evident to them and others if they changed. Just as John pointed out to the “crowd”, the tax collectors and the soldiers their “thing”, you can be sure, as a child of God, He will point out our “thing”. And if we want fruit in our lives, we will have to choose to repent and surrender it.

Father God – You know our hearts so well. You know the very areas that cause us trouble – for some it may be pride, others selfishness, and someone else greed, etc. It really doesn’t matter what it is that we have such a hard time changing. What matters is, whether we make that change or not. I pray that you will continue to reveal the areas in my life that are specific to me that you want to change. Help me to willingly repent and surrender those “rights” that I feel are mine, and allow you to produce eternal fruit for your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.