Matthew 3:9 (ESV)
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for
Abraham.
For the Pharisees, acceptance with God came because of their heritage. They were
descendants of Abraham and they had the Law of Moses. That’s all they needed to
know. How exactly stones could raise up children for Abraham I have no idea,
but with God all things are possible. They needed to understand that heritage
does not gain one access to God. Similarly, having been raised in the church,
being a preacher’s kid, having generations of believers before you in your
family line, none of those things gain favor with God. Just like the Pharisees,
you are trusting the wrong thing. John the Baptist called on the Pharisees to “Bear
fruit in keeping with repentance” (Mt 3:8). They had misplaced faith. Repentance
is turning from trusting self, heritage, law, etc. to trusting God. Trusting God
brings about a change in our thinking and acting. So, let me ask you, what are
you trusting? Acceptance with God was purchased for us by the death, burial,
and resurrection of his son Jesus the Messiah. When we trust God to accept us
because of Jesus, he transforms our life. Are you trusting him?
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