Matthew 3:7-12

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his^[a] baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[b] water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Christmas tree mysteriously produce gifts at this time of the year. And, here in Florida, we know that we get some of the sweetest tastes on earth from citrus trees. As John was preparing the world for the coming of a Savior, he reminded us all to be careful what fruits we produced. Trees are great things to ponder.

Prayer

God, let the work of my day show the relationship I have with my Savior. Help me to produce a harvest of the love and grace that you have shared with me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.