Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, January 27, 2011

“You Brood of Vipers”

What did John sense about or know about or suspect about those people who were so very serious about their religion that he would say such a thing to them as they were coming to him for baptism?

Was it that they were insincere? Was it that they were doing it for show? Was it that they were caught up in the emotion of the moment? Was it that they had a sense of entitlement? What it that they saw no need to change and had no intention of changing?

Was it that they were so very serious about their religion?

Whatever it was about them that caused John to say that terrible thing about them, O God, protect us from it; whatever it was, O God, drive it from us; whatever it was, O God, if it is in us, enable us by your grace to turn away from it and to you.

If such words apply to us, O God, help us to hear them.

Then give us honest, aware, humble, and repentant hearts, O God.

Amen.

“But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” (Matthew 3:7).

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