Lesson 36
Meet Jesus: Fruit Inspector

Matthew 3: 7: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

John's preparatory help is worth really reviewing. Fruit inspection is worth our time. Fruit inspection should best be done on us. John noted some tough untended stuff in these leaders because they were standing in the way of others meeting Jesus with their bad fruit. Hopefully, we do enough personal inspection that God doesn't have to resort to outside help to get our attention.

ACT!
Take a little time to inspect and prune. What in your life is preventing someone from seeing the real Jesus inside of you? Can you cut it off?

PRAY!
Father, when I meet Jesus, He is so gentle, yet so true to the point. Help me to be honest before You inspecting my attitudes and life. Help me be a preparer of the way to Jesus, like John instead of being a hindrance to the way like the leaders in this story. I open myself to Your Holy Spirit for inspection and pruning to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.

copyright 2001, Rev. Philip A.Larson

Lesson of the Week