Luke 3

“Collect no more than what you have been ordered to … do not take money from anyone by force … be content with your wages” (v13-14).  The morality that John (and later Jesus) preached was simple, basic, and already familiar to their listeners.  The difference was that Jesus was going to baptize those who repented with “the Holy Spirit and with fire” (v16), so that instead of trying their hardest to be good, they would become new people – redeemed children of God. 

Our motivation to “be good” (and power to do so) flows out of the continual, life-giving, merciful presence of the Spirit in our hearts.