What Shall We Do

Luke 3:10-14(KJV)

10. And the people ask him, saying, WHAT SHALL WE DO then?

11. He answered and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13. And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do, And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accused any falsely; and be content with your wages.

So John The Baptist was preaching the baptism of repentance in the wilderness.

Repentance – An outward expression of what you believe inside, a change of heart that results in a change of life.

By definition, that expression is mainly what we don’t do, instead of what we do.

John the Baptist told them to bring forth fruit to show they had repented.

There were three different sets of people that came to him, and they each represent people today.

1. The people or some translations say the crowd.

John said if you have 2 coats, to impact or give to them, that has none.

If you have food, then share with them that need food.

I believe in volunteering time and sharing finances with the less fortunate, according to John, which is where true repentance is expressed.

Not just what we don’t do anymore, but what we do.

We were not saved just to go to heaven but to make an impact down here.

Whether it’s through our church, a parachurch organization, or just helping a family member or friend in the community.

2. Publican or some translations use tax collector. In today’s society, that would be the government or government official.

True repentance to John was to be fair. It’s sad how the tax collectors have always been hated because they never have treated people fairly.

There is still so much corruption in the political systems of this world. We just can’t get that right. God help us.

3. Soldiers or in today’s systems, represent the military, the police or any law enforcement.

They were told not to do violence to anyone (unjustly), accuse no one falsely. Be content with your wages. There are many great law enforcement personnel, but also some corruption ones.

But people around the world have gotten tired of corruption and oppression. They’re voting, protesting, and voicing their frustration.

So, in John the Baptist perspective, true repentance is not just what you don’t do anymore, that shows that your heart has been transformed, but the good you do, honesty, fairness, charity, and compassion.

In the United States, we say we are a Christian nation, but sometimes i wonder because of the lack of compassion in some of the elected officials, some of the citizens and some law enforcement at times. But in spite of that I love this country, grateful to live here but we have issues.

We have so many billionaires, millionaires, but poor and needed people, not just here but around the world.

There are so many oppressed people that we don’t care about unless they benefit us in some way.

American; repented nation, Christian nation, i wonder sometimes.

Let’s show how changed our hearts are by what we do for others, our compassion for others.

I pray for all the hungry people, the oppressed, people living under extreme dictatorship; God help them and show the rest of us how we can help.

I pray for all protestor around the world that God would keep them safe and that they would protest peacefully.

Peace