[Scripture Reading] The Fruit of Repentance

Hey, my friend. Today, I wanted to invite you into a practice of listening to Scripture. There’s something powerful about hearing God’s Word spoken over you and to you, isn’t there?

Sometimes when we come to Scripture, we can feel like we need to do something with it. We need to understand it. Study it. Figure out what it means for our lives. Maybe even figure out what God wants us to do next. And those can all be good things.

But today, I want to invite you to simply listen. To let the words of Scripture wash over you. To notice what catches your attention. To make space for God to meet you right where you are.

You don’t have to force anything. You don’t have to come up with some profound insight. You can simply receive.

You can choose to enter into this time in one of three ways.

First, you can simply listen to the passage in a prayerful posture. If you are feeling especially tired or overwhelmed or drained, this might be a good option for you. You don’t have to do anything other than receive the words.

Second, you can choose to practice Lectio Divina. Meaning that as you listen to the passage, you see if there is a word or phrase that God is highlighting to you. Something that stands out, that hits home, or that especially encourages you.

Third, you can opt to engage in Ignatian prayer. To do that, you simply ask the Holy Spirit to guide your imagination as you try to picture the scene unfolding in front of you. Use your five senses: What do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? Who are you standing beside? As best as you can, enter into the story with them.

Introduction to Passage

I’ll be reading the passage three different times, with a pause in between to allow you to listen for the Lord and see if He has anything to share with you. Or to sit in that sacred space and receive His love and care.

This particular passage comes from Luke chapter 3 (CSB). John the Baptist is going from place to place along the Jordan River, calling people to repentance.

I know—repentance isn’t something we typically long to read about, is it? Yet we know that God, in His kindness, reveals our sin so that we might let go of that and draw near to Him instead. He is so gracious to do so.

If you know John, you know he is not one to mince words. He says things plainly. And he’s doing that because of the great calling God has given him to point others to Jesus.

As John is preaching along the river, various people come up to him and ask a question. Who are they? What is their posture as they ask? What do they seek to know?

And as you listen, perhaps you might imagine yourself there, too. What if you were one of the people standing along the Jordan River that day? What might you be wondering? What might you be asking?

Are you ready, my friend? Ready to hear what God might have to say to you today? Let’s begin with a prayer.

Prayer Before the Reading

God, we come before You just as we are.

Some of us may be tired. Some of us may be distracted. Some of us may be carrying questions or burdens we don’t even have words for.

And so we ask You to meet us here.

Holy Spirit, quiet our hearts and minds. Help us to listen—not simply with our ears, but with our whole selves.

Give us the grace to receive whatever You have for us today. Help us to notice what You are inviting us to notice, without striving or trying to make something happen.

And Jesus, if there is a word You want to speak to us through this passage, help us to recognize it.

We trust You.

Amen.

First Reading

[John] went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . . .

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him . . .  “Produce fruit consistent with repentance . . . .”

“What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him.

He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?”

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

(Pause)

Second Reading

[John] went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . . .

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him . . .  “Produce fruit consistent with repentance . . . .”

“What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him.

He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?”

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

(Pause)

Third Reading

[John] went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . . .

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him . . .  “Produce fruit consistent with repentance . . . .”

“What then should we do?” the crowds were asking him.

He replied to them, “The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

He told them, “Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.”

Some soldiers also questioned him, “What should we do?”

He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

(Pause)

Prayer After the Reading

Jesus, thank You for meeting us in Your Word.

Thank You that we don’t have to come to You with everything figured out. We can simply come as we are, and You are faithful to meet us there.

As we go from this time of listening, help us to carry with us whatever You have placed on our hearts.

If You have brought something to our attention, give us the courage to respond.

If You have invited us to rest, help us to receive that rest.

If You have reminded us of Your love, help us to linger there.

And if we’re not sure what You were saying to us today, help us to trust that You are still with us.

May Your Word continue to speak in our hearts long after this time together has ended.

Amen.

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• Episode 209: [Imaginative Prayer] Hungry for Jesus: The Feeding of the Five Thousand
• Episode 183: [Bible Journal Session] How Do You Need to Be Restored?
• Bonus Episode 19: [Scripture Reading] The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23, John 10)
• Bonus Episode 11: [Imaginative Prayer] Jesus, Have Mercy