Image from workingpreacher.org
Hear the devotional: https://bit.ly/41whZV0
View Here: https://bit.ly/4gkS1YM
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 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 barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. (Luke 3:7-18 NIV Bible)
I am an international preacher. Not bragging, but a fact. I was serving a church in the Rio Grande Valley, and thanks to some church members I received an invitation to preach in a church in Reynosa, Tamualipas, Mexico. And I felt led to take with me, a costume from our Christmas pageants, of a character like John the Baptist. And for that sermon I thought I would preach from this passage, verse 7 and thus began my sermon to a group of men. To this day I do not know how they received this message, or especially the reference to being a "brood of vipers!"
In Luke 3, we encounter John the Baptist, a figure who calls God's people to repentance and radical change. This is the season of preparation; we prepare for the coming of Christ Jesus, and in this passage we find John's message as a call to our own hearts. His words are urgent, challenging, and yet filled with hope.
John's words to the crowds in verse 7 are stark: "You brood of vipers!" This strong language isn't meant to shame, but to awaken people to the urgency of the times. The people had grown complacent, relying on their heritage—"We have Abraham as our father"—and their rituals, rather than living out true faith. John calls them to something deeper: a life of repentance that bears fruit. For us, this season of Advent is a time to look inward and ask: Is my life producing the fruit of repentance? Am I just going through the motions of faith, or am I genuinely turning my heart towards God, allowing Him to transform me?
When the crowd asks, "What should we do?" John doesn't give a vague answer. He offers practical, actionable steps:
Share with those in need (v. 11).
Be honest in your work (v. 13).
Be content and avoid greed (v. 14).
True repentance isn't just about feelings; it leads to active change in how we live, how we treat others, and how we align our lives with God's values. In Advent, we are invited not just to reflect on Christ's first coming but to live in anticipation of His return. How are we living out the ethics of the Kingdom now?
As John baptizes with water, he reminds the people that someone greater is coming—Jesus, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. In this promise, John points to the hope of transformation, of cleansing, of new life. Advent is not just a time of waiting, but a time of hopeful expectation. Christ has come, and He will come again. The invitation for us in this season is to prepare our hearts not only for His birth in Bethlehem but for His return in glory.
PRAYER: Holy God, As we wait and prepare during this Advent season, we hear the call of John to prepare the way for Your coming. We confess that our hearts are often far from You, filled with distractions, complacency, and self-reliance. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and give us the courage to live out Your values with integrity and love. We await Your coming, not just as a baby in Bethlehem but as our returning King. Transform us this Advent so that we may be ready for Your glory. For it is in Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, let’s respond to John’s call to repentance with tangible action: Find a way to serve someone in need: whether by sharing resources, offering a listening ear, or volunteering time. Examine your own life—are there areas where you are holding on to greed, selfishness, or complacency? Surrender these to God, and ask Him to help you live more fully in alignment with His Kingdom values. Take time each day to reflect on the hope of Christ’s coming. How can your life reflect the anticipation and joy of His return? Let this Advent be a time of true preparation—of heart, of action, and of deep hope.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
