by Pastor Rich Carlson

Still getting ready to introduce Jesus to the people, John preached a message of repentance and challenged the people to live in keeping with that repentance. He gives a clear explanation of what it means to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:9).

Repentance, which brings about forgiveness and salvation, is our feeling bad about our wrongdoings with the intent of changing the way we live. In his desire to prepare the way of the Lord, John told the people they would need to recognize that, from God’s perspective, things were going to have to change.

Life is not about us at everyone else’s expense. It’s about God—first giving our lives to Him, and then living our lives for Him. Repent, John declared, and then produce fruit as evidence of that repentance. In other words, true repentance means giving evidence consistent with the change in our lives.

The crowd asked, in response to John’s challenge to give and then live, “What shall we do then?” (verse 10)

 John replied, Share, be fair, be honest, and be content (verses 11-14).

Thus, God through John says, “Honor My life principles, be nice to others, and you will produce the fruit of repentance.”

It can’t get much simpler than that. Imagine what a wonderful place we would live in if we were thankful to God and kind to others!

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.