Day 12

Day 12
Matthew 3:10-12 and even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in to the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out the threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn: but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
While the warnings of John the Baptist may have gone largely unnoticed by the religious leaders they surely would have no excuse for not understanding the meanings. John used word pictures and terminology that these men could truly understand. You see a tree that bore no fruit was of no use to a farmer. It’s only worth to be cut down and provide temporary warmth as it was being destroyed by fire. The true purpose of any fruit bearing tree or vine is to consistently provide palatable and useable fruit for a long period of time not on a temporary or inconsistent basis. You see a fruit tree requires far too much care to be constantly replaced. Especially since so much effort and time must pass before the first viable fruit is ever realized, (up to seven years). Hence the reason that non-bearing trees were cut up and burned in the fire. The chaff is the worthless by-product of growth that is formed around each kernel of wheat; it is in essence the waste of the plant. Again since it has no value it proves to be a distraction and hindrance to the harvesting process hence the need and desire to burn it.
John is in a sense saying that Jesus is coming and with Him he will bring the decisiveness of an ax and the sifting of a pitchfork, not exactly a calm or soothing picture is it? Jesus came to cause decision, He came to sift the wheat from the chaff and to burn and destroy things that prevented a healthy and prosperous harvest of His people. John gave a harsh warning because a harsh warning was needed.
How about today would you agree that our world needs a harsh warning or would our world be all better served by ignoring the facts? You see the only differences between the times of John and now truly are time, the message never changes. Today we desire not to offend, or to be politically correct, and for what purpose? Yes feel good messages will fill more pews, but will those pews remained full upon Christ’s second coming? Not a comforting thought is it? The truth in love will always be the proper path. Remember this was the message of the New Testament not the old. John was ushering in the Messiah, hence one of truth, grace and mercy, one to be paid appropriate attention to, our only hope.
Daily Prayer: Father may we be bold enough to speak truth in love and not neglect the speaking for fear, for You oh God are as worthy now as You were then, if not more, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
“Waste is waste and it will always produce more waste but never fruit”

Gene Burroughs Servant