Fruits of Repentance

Daily Reading: Matthew 3

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3.8)

Devotional Thought: What are the fruits of repentance?  It varies with each individual, since each of us must repent over different things.  In Luke’s account of this event, John the Baptist explained:

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” ¹¹ And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” ¹² Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” ¹³ And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3.10-14).

From scripture, I would add the following fruits of repentance:

·       Sin no more:  Jesus said to a sinful woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8.11). 

·       Forgiveness: “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18.35).  “or if you forgive others their trespasses[JW1] , your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6.15).

·       Mercy, justice, and humility:  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6.8, KJV).

·       Compassion: In Matthew 25, Jesus said to those who did not feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, “Depart from me…” 

Are you bearing these fruits in keeping with repentance?

Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, that you have saved me from my sins.  Help me to bear the fruit of repentance to the glory of your name.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 88.1-5

1 O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you.

2 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!

3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.

4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength,

5 like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.