By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: “…And even the ax is laid to the root of the trees” (Luke 3:9).
My Dear Friends,
I greet you in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Blessings to you and your families.
Bearing good fruit is essential or consequences will follow.
The gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, through the Holy Spirit gave infallible details of Jesus’ physical time on earth. We must recognize that the understanding of God’s Holy Word comes only from the Holy Spirit as He illuminates the meaning.
“The aforementioned Text, “The ax is laid to the root of the trees” is not the typical Scripture that is familiar or established in our language as we share the Word of God with others. Nevertheless, the illumination of this Text overwhelmingly caught my attention as I read Luke, Chapter 3.
Luke recorded the preaching of John the Baptist who we know as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist preached a “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” message. As he preached, there was a multitude that came out to be baptized. But some of the people had different motives in which they sought John’s baptism. “Some people wanted to be baptized by John so they could escape eternal punishment, but they were not really repenting from sin nor were they willing to change the way they lived” (LASB, 1472). So, John addressed them as “brood vipers”, which means a family of snakes.
He further cautioned them to bear fruit that is worthy of repentance. He said to them, “do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” In other words, Abraham who was their “father of faith” cannot save them from destruction. He told them that “even now the ax is laid to the fruit of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” In essence, “bear fruit or suffer the consequences of being cut down.”
After John’s bold declaration, the people asked, “What shall we do then? In the Text, John told them to share, “He who has two tunics, let him give to one who has none: and he who has food, let him do likewise; to the tax collector he told him to not collect more than what was appointed to him; and to the soldier-“Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages (Luke 3:9-15). In other words, share, be fair and content.
With this in mind, are you bearing good fruit or just “going through the motion”? If not, consequences are sure to follow. Be blessed!
Jesus Saves!
