Worldwide Christmas December 16, 2025 Devotional

MATTHEW 3:7-10 | ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Another sign that a person has become an individual is truth-telling. It takes a lot of ego strength to stand up for unpopular truths that will arouse anger or resistance. John in our passage shows his strength by speaking uncomfortable truths to the leaders of Israel. They are hypocritical (i.e., snakes) because they court popular approval by pretending to support John's ministry while secretly disapproving. They are mistaken because they are confident of their status before God on a false basis. No external factor, like race or ethnicity or lineage or circumcision, can guarantee God's favor. By exposing their hypocrisy and undercutting their security, John has honored the truth but made some enemies.

Are you strong enough to stand up for difficult truths?

When have you done so?

Gracious God,

The popular and the true often diverge. Give us courage to go against the tide in Your name.

Amen.