Repentance is Still Needed
The Fruit of Repentance – Part 3

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:7-14

Key Verse: Luke 3:8a

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

John the Baptist mentions three fruits that result from true repentance. Over the last two days we have covered caring for the poor and personal integrity in our financial affairs.

The final fruit that John mentions is found in the answer he gave to some soldiers. They came to be baptized and asked what was required of them. John was well aware of their lack of honesty in dealing with the people they were charged with protecting.

Truth telling is the natural result of truly repenting and following Jesus. John knew if he was going to prepare people for Jesus’s arrival, he must point them to the importance of truth.

Jesus came teaching that He was the truth. He would declare that the truth would set us free.

The Apostle Paul would demand of Christ-followers to stop all lying to each other (Colossians 3:9).

As many have noted long before me, once we are caught in a lie, we are considered liars. Lying destroys the trust factor that we all long for. Lying destroys marriages because it eats away at a spouse’s reliability.

I have often pointed out to someone who is struggling to tell the truth, that their spouse would much rather deal with the issue rather than be told a lie. Most can deal with disappointment but do not want to deal with being lied to!

When we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ, the result must lead to honesty in all our conversations and affairs.

Father, stab my conscience when I start to shade the truth. Give me the courage to be honest even when I make mistakes. In Jesus’s Name, amen.