The Gospel of Luke 3:14 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God 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.” (Luke 3:14 KJV).

In this passage John the Baptist, in his cry out in the wilderness calling for people to repent, is approached by soldiers and they ask him what they should do in response to his message? These soldiers are likely gentile Roman warriors who were occupying the land of Israel during that time. They were often seen as oppressors and were despised by many Jews. John's response to them is of great significance as it provides insights into the nature of repentance and ethical conduct, not just for soldiers, but for all who believe. He said: "Do violence to no man." This reveals the kind of heavy handed conduct of these soldiers being the Roman Empire’s war machine.

He told them: "Neither accuse any falsely." This admonition touches on the issue of integrity and honesty. It urges the soldiers to refrain from bearing false witness against the people under their charge. This command is relevant not only to soldiers but to all believers as it underscores the value of truth and righteousness in all dealings with others. It upholds the principle of justice and fairness.

He instructed them: "Be content with your wages." This advice challenges the soldiers to be satisfied with what they have and not to engage in corrupt practices such as extortion or bribery. It encourages contentment and gratitude, and it speaks against the temptation of greed and dishonest gain. This message is repeated in the risen Lord’s revelation to the apostle Paul, who stated that godliness with contentment is great gain.

In his letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul gave us this exhortation: “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:6-9 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

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