Luke 3:10

Luke 3:10 says, And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?  The people asked John what they should do when they repented.  Repentance should not just change the way we think, but the way we act as well.  We don't need to ask someone else what we need to do though, but need to ask God.  Verse eleven adds, He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  John said they needed to share what they had with those in need.  I believe that God still expects us to do the same today.  Verse twelve states, Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?  The publicans, the tax collectors, asked what they should do.  Repentance should bring a desire to change, and even though God will direct us in that change, we as Christians should help new Christians to know what God expects of them, by example first.  Verse thirteen adds, And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  John told them to not overcharge on taxes. Verse fourteen says, And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.  The soldiers also came to John asking what they should do, and he told them to not mistreat anyone and to be content with their wages.  As soldiers, they could have demanded payment from people since they were in power.  No matter what our position today, we must treat other people fairly.  Verse fifteen declares, And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  The people were expecting the coming of the Messiah, or Christ, and wondered if John was the Christ.  We today don't have to wonder, because we know Who Christ is, and that is Jesus.  Verse sixteen adds, John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  John gave them an emphatic no as an answer.  He was not worthy to even unbuckle the shoes of the coming Christ, and could only baptize with water, whereas the coming Christ would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.  Baptism today is only symbolic of the change that Jesus Christ makes in our lives when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and He alone can make this change.  Verse seventeen continues, Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.  John said the coming Christ would separate those who believed in God from those who didn't.  Someone may fool everyone into believing they are a Christian, but Jesus Himself is the final authority.  Verse eighteen says, And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.  John preached many truths as he exhorted the people to repent and come to God in preparation for the coming Messiah.  We must preach God's truth today as we call on people to repent and come to God as we await the return of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,  John had even spoken out against Herod, the tetrarch, or ruler, for his incestuous relationship with his brother's wife and many other evils that he did.  We must speak out against evil no matter how powerful those committing it may be today.  Verse twenty continues, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.  Herod had John imprisoned.  We must speak the truth of God today, even if it causes us to be imprisoned.  Verse twenty-one states, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,  As well as the other people,  Jesus Himself was baptized by John.  Jesus set the example for us.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  Jesus' baptism was different in one way.  The Holy Ghost came down in the shape of a dove and a Voice from Heaven declared Jesus to be His beloved Son in Whom He was well pleased.   There may not be these things seen and heard when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and are baptized, but we can be certain that we become a child of God and that He is well pleased with us.  Of course, this happens when we accept Jesus and become indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but baptism shows our obedience to Christ.