Scripture: Matthew 3:4-8
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
Thought for the Day: The NRSV concludes this intense interaction between Jesus and some of the Religious Leaders of the day with the words, “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” The NIV says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” John understands that baptism is logistically easy. You go and get dunked in the water. Living a life worthy of the act is not as easy. Baptism is serious business, and though it does not require perfection or full knowledge of all things theological, it does demand a faithful awareness. Let each of us strive to bear fruit worthy of the repentance with claimed in the waters of baptism.
Prayer: Lord of earth and water, let us continually use the image of baptism as a reminder to recommit ourselves to a life that bears the fruit of your gracious spirit. Amen.
