20 March

John Wesley once said, ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’

Repentance should lead to ‘good fruit’ (v.9). John the Baptist says, ‘Produce fruit in keeping with repentance’ (v.8). What is this ‘good fruit’? ‘Good fruit’ includes both social justice and personal morality. Interestingly the examples given all relate in some way to work and money. What does goodness look like?

• Generosity
  Those who can afford it should support those who can’t: ‘Anyone who has two shirts should sharewith the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same’ (v.11).
• Honesty
  John tells the tax collector, ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to’ (v.13).
• Contentment
  John tells the soldiers, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay’ (v.14b).

We all need to remember God’s goodness to us, especially in Christ, who is the ‘high priest of the good things’ God gives (Hebrews 9:11). Complaining keeps you captive, whilst remembering God’s faithfulnesssets you free. Praise, thanksgiving and worship are the antidote to complaining and grumbling.