December 3rd 2017
John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus Christ by proclaiming that the way to receive Christ is to make crooked roads straight. There are a thousand roads and diversions that distract our attention each day. Many of them are crooked. Our world loves crooked roads, it even broadcasts them as being the most delightful and intriguing paths to venture out on. While many paths lead us away from True Hope, True Peace, and True Joy, Jesus beckons us to rise above the tide and adventure together with Him on the straight and narrow. John the Baptist makes it clear that the only way we can bear fruit is by abiding in Christ and abiding in repentance. “keep fruit in bearing with repentance” Luke 3:3. There is a myth in the church these days that repentance is for unbelievers. John however, is speaking to Gods chosen people telling them that if they want to bear fruit in their lives, there is only one way to do it, to repent continually. Repentance is a freeing act, not an act of self condemnation. Repentance is the very attitude that says “I must become less, that He might become Greater.” And as we lean less on ourselves we begin to find freedom, joy, and abundance flowing in to fill the lowly.
