lectio: luke 3:7-18
December 11, 2009
So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ”Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. ”Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ”His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people.
luke 3:7-18
verses 10-14 – so often i ask: what do i do, Lord? what i am supposed to do is very practical, not super-hyped, just plain and simple. share food and clothes with those who have none. be honest. don’t oppress. be content. this is what repentance looks like. so often, simplicity is the answer to my own complexity.
verse 15 - echoing the request of abraham joshua heschel: “i asked for wonder!”; i need more expectation and wonder and awe in my life…which probably means i need to become more childlike again and again…
verse 17 – in prayer and ministry, i overuse the imagery of the Holy Spirit coming as a dove…with gentleness and grace and loving adoption. i need more of the fire of the Holy Spirit…burn away the chaff in me O God!
++O Father, make us into children of abraham, make us children of faithfulness. O Lord Jesus, may we abide in you in such simplicity and trust that we bear the fruit of our abiding. O Spirit, come…come and baptize us with fire that we may spread it upon the earth. Amen.++
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