Scripture:
Luke 6:43-45 (English Standard Version)
A Tree and Its Fruit
43"For(A) no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44for(B) each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45(C) The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces(D) evil,(E) for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Cross references:
Luke 6:43 : For Luke 6:43, 44, Matt 7:16, 20
Luke 6:44 : Matt 12:33
Luke 6:45 : Matt 12:35; 15:18, 19; Matt 13:52; Eph 4:29
Luke 6:45 : Matt 5:37
Luke 6:45 : Matt 12:34
Reflection:
Why does Jesus set figs and grapes over against thorns and brambles? The fig tree was the favorite of all trees for the people of Palestine. It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity. Grapes, likewise, produced wine, the symbol of joy. Thorns and brambles were only good for burning as fuel for the fire. There's a proverbial saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise a person will produce good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. Charles Read said: "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." Character, like fruit, doesn't grow overnight. It takes a lifetime. Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living — living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit? By being true — true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies the grace we need to live as his disciples. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. Do you cultivate good fruit in your life and reject whatever produces bad fruit? Jesus told another story about the importance of building on the right foundation to reinforce his lesson about sound living. When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever (Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is — with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2). There is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by one's practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, himself, and his neighbor. His word can be counted on. What foundation is your life built upon?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, you are the sure foundation and source of life and strength for us. Give me wisdom and strength to live according to your truth and to reject every false way. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Daily Word - The Log - Luke 6:39-42
Scripture:
Luke 6:39-42 (English Standard Version)
39He also told them a parable: (A) "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40(B) A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is(C) fully trained will be like his teacher. 41(D) Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but(E) do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
Cross references:
Luke 6:39 : Matt 15:14
Luke 6:40 : Matt 10:24
Luke 6:40 : 2 Cor 13:11; Heb 13:21; 1 Pet 5:10; 1 Cor 1:10; 2 Tim 3:17
Luke 6:41 : Luke 6:37
Luke 6:41 : John 8:7-9
Reflection:
Jesus' two parables allude to the proverb: Without vision the people perish! (Proverbs 29:18) What does the illustration of a blind guide and a bad eye (the log in the eye) say to us? A bad eye left untreated and a blind guide can only lead to one thing -- disaster! We can only teach others what we have been taught ourselves. And how can we help others overcome their faults if we are blinded by our own faults? A disciple is one who listens to the voice of the Master and who overcomes his faults through the skillful help of the Divine Physician. If we are to be guides and teachers for others, then we must have clear vision for where we are going and a map that shows the way. If our destination is heaven, then there is only one way and that way is the cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross of Christ sin is pardoned and the sinner is made whole, darkness and corruption give way to light and truth, death is defeated and new life restored. The cross of Christ frees us from condemnation and guilt and shows us the way of perfect love. Why is judgmentalism so rampant today, even among Christians? "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty. The Rabbis warned people: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge and how difficult it is to be impartial in judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you. The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity and forbearance towards your neighbor.
Prayer For The Day:
"O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name's sake. (Prayer of William Barclay, 20th century)
Luke 6:39-42 (English Standard Version)
39He also told them a parable: (A) "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40(B) A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is(C) fully trained will be like his teacher. 41(D) Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but(E) do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
Cross references:
Luke 6:39 : Matt 15:14
Luke 6:40 : Matt 10:24
Luke 6:40 : 2 Cor 13:11; Heb 13:21; 1 Pet 5:10; 1 Cor 1:10; 2 Tim 3:17
Luke 6:41 : Luke 6:37
Luke 6:41 : John 8:7-9
Reflection:
Jesus' two parables allude to the proverb: Without vision the people perish! (Proverbs 29:18) What does the illustration of a blind guide and a bad eye (the log in the eye) say to us? A bad eye left untreated and a blind guide can only lead to one thing -- disaster! We can only teach others what we have been taught ourselves. And how can we help others overcome their faults if we are blinded by our own faults? A disciple is one who listens to the voice of the Master and who overcomes his faults through the skillful help of the Divine Physician. If we are to be guides and teachers for others, then we must have clear vision for where we are going and a map that shows the way. If our destination is heaven, then there is only one way and that way is the cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross of Christ sin is pardoned and the sinner is made whole, darkness and corruption give way to light and truth, death is defeated and new life restored. The cross of Christ frees us from condemnation and guilt and shows us the way of perfect love. Why is judgmentalism so rampant today, even among Christians? "Thinking the best of other people" is necessary if we wish to grow in love. And kindliness in judgment is nothing less that a sacred duty. The Rabbis warned people: "He who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." How easy it is to misjudge and how difficult it is to be impartial in judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. It is easier to find fault in others than in oneself. Jesus states a heavenly principle we can stake our lives on: what you give to others (and how you treat others) will return to you. The Lord knows our faults and he sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor he patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin which inhabits our hearts. Do you trust in God's mercy and grace? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with his loving-kindness and mercy that you may only have room for charity and forbearance towards your neighbor.
Prayer For The Day:
"O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for thy name's sake. (Prayer of William Barclay, 20th century)
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Daily Word - GRACE - Luke 6:27-38
Scripture:
Luke 6:27-38 (English Standard Version)
Love Your Enemies
27"But I say to you who hear,(A) Love your enemies,(B) do good to those who hate you, 28(C) bless those who curse you,(D) pray for those who abuse you. 29(E) To one who(F) strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30(G) Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31And(H) as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32(I) "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And(J) if you(K) lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But(L) love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and(M) you will be sons of(N) the Most High, for(O) he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36(P) Be merciful, even as(Q) your Father is merciful.
Judging Others 37(R) (S) "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38(T) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put(U) into your lap. For(V) with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Footnotes:
Luke 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
Cross references:
Luke 6:27 : Matt 5:44
Luke 6:27 : Prov 25:21, 22; Rom 12:20, 21
Luke 6:28 : 1 Pet 3:9
Luke 6:28 : Luke 6:27
Luke 6:29 : For Luke 6:29, 30, Matt 5:39-42; Rom 12:17
Luke 6:29 : Isa 50:6; Lam 3:30; Matt 26:67
Luke 6:30 : Psalm 37:21; Prov 21:26
Luke 6:31 : Matt 7:12
Luke 6:32 : Matt 5:46
Luke 6:34 : Luke 14:12-14; Prov 19:17; Matt 5:42
Luke 6:34 : Psalm 37:26
Luke 6:35 : Luke 6:27
Luke 6:35 : Matt 5:45
Luke 6:35 : Luke 1:32; Mark 5:7
Luke 6:35 : James 1:5
Luke 6:36 : Matt 5:7, 48; Eph 5:1, 2; James 3:17
Luke 6:36 : James 5:11
Luke 6:37 : For Luke 6:37, 38, 41, 42, Matt 7:1-5; Rom 14:13; 1 Cor 4:5; James 5:9
Luke 6:37 : Matt 6:14; 18:23-35
Luke 6:38 : 2 Cor 9:6-8
Luke 6:38 : Psalm 79:12; Isa 65:6, 7
Luke 6:38 : Mark 4:24; Judg 1:7
Reflection: GRACE
What makes Christians different and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace — treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated — with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit form doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil. How can we possibly love those who cause us harm and ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart free that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone
Luke 6:27-38 (English Standard Version)
Love Your Enemies
27"But I say to you who hear,(A) Love your enemies,(B) do good to those who hate you, 28(C) bless those who curse you,(D) pray for those who abuse you. 29(E) To one who(F) strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30(G) Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31And(H) as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32(I) "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And(J) if you(K) lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But(L) love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and(M) you will be sons of(N) the Most High, for(O) he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36(P) Be merciful, even as(Q) your Father is merciful.
Judging Others 37(R) (S) "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38(T) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put(U) into your lap. For(V) with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Footnotes:
Luke 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
Cross references:
Luke 6:27 : Matt 5:44
Luke 6:27 : Prov 25:21, 22; Rom 12:20, 21
Luke 6:28 : 1 Pet 3:9
Luke 6:28 : Luke 6:27
Luke 6:29 : For Luke 6:29, 30, Matt 5:39-42; Rom 12:17
Luke 6:29 : Isa 50:6; Lam 3:30; Matt 26:67
Luke 6:30 : Psalm 37:21; Prov 21:26
Luke 6:31 : Matt 7:12
Luke 6:32 : Matt 5:46
Luke 6:34 : Luke 14:12-14; Prov 19:17; Matt 5:42
Luke 6:34 : Psalm 37:26
Luke 6:35 : Luke 6:27
Luke 6:35 : Matt 5:45
Luke 6:35 : Luke 1:32; Mark 5:7
Luke 6:35 : James 1:5
Luke 6:36 : Matt 5:7, 48; Eph 5:1, 2; James 3:17
Luke 6:36 : James 5:11
Luke 6:37 : For Luke 6:37, 38, 41, 42, Matt 7:1-5; Rom 14:13; 1 Cor 4:5; James 5:9
Luke 6:37 : Matt 6:14; 18:23-35
Luke 6:38 : 2 Cor 9:6-8
Luke 6:38 : Psalm 79:12; Isa 65:6, 7
Luke 6:38 : Mark 4:24; Judg 1:7
Reflection: GRACE
What makes Christians different and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace — treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated — with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit form doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil. How can we possibly love those who cause us harm and ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart free that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone
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