Living by the Holy Spirit’s life in us
Luke 3:10-20
10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 11 In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ 12 Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13 He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ 14 Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
John’s hearers wanted to know what it looked like to live a life turned to follow God’s way. John proposed three practical things: sharing with those who do not have enough, being honest with money (the tax collectors in those days were in a position where dishonesty was easy and even expected), and don’t use one’s power or position for one’s personal benefit, rather be content. These practices would still apply today as patterns of life for God’s followers to live.
To be clear, living this way does not save us, but living this pattern of life on a consistent basis is only possible when we are deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and are living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Living this kind of outward life shows that our inner lives are turned to Jesus.
John understood that the change he was calling for was not something human beings could do without the help of the Holy Spirit coming into our lives. John also understood that he could only point to what was coming, all he had was water – the one he was getting people ready for, the Messiah, would be bringing the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit is at work in the world, and we are invited to tap into the resources of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be people who share with those in need, deal honestly with others in money matters, and use our power and position for the benefit of other not ourselves.
John’s message was good news (vs. 18) because it proclaimed a pattern of life that challenged the destructive ways of life – of endless acquisition, greed, dishonesty, and self-centeredness. In proclaiming this message John was saying there is a different way to be, the way of Jesus.
PRAYER:
Lord God, send the Holy Spirit to our lives that our outward lived lives might mirror the Spirit’s presence in our inner lives. Shape us to be people who share, to be people who are honest with money, to be people use our power for the benefit of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.