Day 20: Repentance

"John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water.  But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'"  Luke 3:16

Main Character:  John the Baptist
Scripture:  Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-18
Symbol:  Scallop Shell

I distinctly remember in elementary school a "game" that our teachers created to encourage good behavior.  They cut out strips in three different colors - yellow, blue, and red.  You could earn these strips of paper by sitting quietly at your desk, helping a classmate, keeping your desk neat, and completing assignments in a timely manner.  Ten yellow strips could be turned in for one blue strip.  Five blue strips could equal one red strip.  Lastly, ten red strips equaled a reward of pancakes with strawberries at a local diner.  I tried so hard to earn those strips, and I was devastated when one of my yellow prizes was taken away for speaking out of turn one day. 

I quickly grasped that the more good you did, the more you would be rewarded.  My motivation was not to have good behavior but to do what I could to earn a strip.  If I was going to do something naughty, I would check first to make sure there were no teachers around!  In our society, we are so quick to focus on strange forms of repentance.  We cut corners and work the system until we get our hands on the prize.  It seems like we are all taught to be good for the reward not because that's how we should act towards our fellow man.

John came to preach a different message.  Baptism was not to be done just as a sign to others that you were a good person; instead it was a turning of your mind and soul towards following the commands God had established.  I find it very interesting that John selected a quote from Isaiah when he was preaching to the crowds in Luke 3:4.  He wanted to point out that this turning, this salvation, was not just for the Jews.  It is for all mankind.  He gives specific examples in Luke 3:11-14 about how this "turning" is played out in real life situations.

Remind yourself today about the true meaning of baptism - it is an outward sign of an inward faith.  John baptized with water, but he did so only to point to the true savior, Jesus Christ, who would soon follow in his footsteps.

Ponder Points:

• If you have been baptized, take some time to discuss the experience with your children.  How was your life different before and after you made the choice to accept an inward faith?
• Is there something that you would like forgiveness for in this Christmas season?  How can you practically go about repenting for this particular action?
• John preached to both the outwardly good and bad alike.  Talk with your children about this concept.  Remind them that we all make mistakes and need forgiveness no matter how good our outward appearance.  Does your striving to look good on the outside prevent you from noticing your need for forgiveness on the inside?