What shall we do?

Good morning from Rogers! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

The trip up to Rogers was great. We were running a little behind schedule so drove a little too fast but really enjoyed the getting away. I found gospel music to play all the way almost. I drove and Bill slept most of the way. You've got to remember that we are night people so the mornings are not great for us. But have enjoyed Joshua tremendously. He is six years old and is a great 'Go Fish' player. My son gave his wife a beautiful diamond ring for their anniversary. It is beautiful and she was so surprised.

We have been looking into the book of Luke at the birth, early childhood, early life and the beginning of Jesus ministry. John began preaching at this time (in Luke 3) So he (John the baptizer, the forerunner of Christ, son of Elisabeth and Zacharias) began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him,

"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance and do no begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire."

And the crowds were questioning him, saying, "Then what shall we do?"

And he would answer and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise."

And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

And he said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."

Some soldiers were questioning him saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?"

And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."

This was a totally different way from what anyone had taught them before. Hypocrisy was rampant and there was no one to tell them to stop. John called them vipers or snakes. Wonder what would happen today if a preacher stood in the pulpit and called his congregation snakes. I bet that would get some attention.

It was so different they were asking "What are we supposed to do?" Tax collectors were collecting more taxes and pocketing the rest.

Soldiers were to not take money from people by force or accuse anyone falsely.

Three things we can reap from this - if you see your brother in need, share with him....your food, your clothes. 'Give and it shall be given unto you - pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom.' Don't give for gain but to help your brother/sister.

Second - don't take what doesn't belong to you. We can become in the habit of just saying well I'll get some paper from work or staples or paper clips or whatever. It is easy to get into the habit of just sponging a little here and there.

I worked for a woman in Benton one time that would only give me one pencil at a time. To get a new pencil I had to turn in a stub. That is the truth. No taking from her.

This is some of the little foxes that we need to be nip in the bud or they can become big foxes.

The third thing is to be content with your wages. Your boss doesn't owe you anything but a pay check at the end of the week for the hours you have put in. You notice I didn't say the work you have done - I said the hours you have put in. By law they have to pay you for hours, but there is no law that says you have to work during those hours for which you are paid. That is a choice you have to make from your own heart before God.

It says to be content with your wages. How many times have we said 'they just don't pay me enough.' Well, when you accepted the job you were looking for, it seemed like a good deal at that time, didn't it? So, what happened? Be content with your wages. If you started working on the hours you are there on your job, you might find your boss padding you pocket a little more.

John started the teachings that Jesus would expound more on. It was a different way for them and for some of us also....to live like the Lord wants us to live cutting out the little foxes.....to go and sin no more.

Lord, teach us to live honestly. Slap our hands when we do wrong as sometimes we become so accustomed to doing it our way that we don't even realize those little foxes are creeping in. In Jesus Name. Amen ( it is done )

Have a great day today!

Charlotte