Scripture:
Luke 6:37-49 NKJV
[37] “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” [39] And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? [40] A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. [41] And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? [42] Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. [43] “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. [46] “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? [47] Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: [48] He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. [49] But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Observation:
As I was praying over what to write about this morning. I thought about the response that was received yesterday. It’s nice to hear back from those who receive these and read them. That doesn’t happen often. I know that not everyone reads what is sent every morning. However, I’m excited when I send out a SOAP and I get a good response. It tells me that people want to hear GOD’S word. I have noticed over the past few years that the ones that get the best results are generally about grace, mercy, and the faithful love that GOD shows to those whom HE has called out of the tomb by name. Of whom I am one. Now that being said, when GOD found me I was not in a good place. My life had fallen apart and my soul was empty. A lot of changes had to be made. As I started reading HIS word that started to take place. So let’s see what HE has to say this morning. One of the longest sermons that Jesus gave was at the beginning of HIS 3 year ministry. It starts i. Matthew chapter 5 and runs into chapter 7, but a condensed version of it is found in Luke chapter 6. Some of which are not found written in the same words. HE talks about judging others which is one of the scriptures all of us like to cling to. What HE says is, ” Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For what measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Now this statement is powerful, and clearly, Jesus is teaching us something. I believe what is being said is take a good look at yourself. Every flaw that you find in others can also be found in you. No one is exempt. As HE continues, HE brings that point to the surface talking about the blind leading the blind. Not being about to see your flaws but looking at all the flaws in others. Most of us love that scripture. I love that scripture, in the past, it has allowed me to stay right where I was. But as HE continues to teach. I think it’s important to continue to read. Because HE doesn’t talk about staying where you are. In fact HE says the opposite. First remove that plank from your eye, then you can see better to remove the plank from your brothers eye. As the title stated you can’t just pick and choose the fluffy stuff. Its important to seek the truth that is only found in the word of GOD. Yes, I believe it’s important not to judge others. That’s just not our job. As our LORD continues to teach us. HE seems to switch gears by talking about a tree and the kind of fruit it produces. This is an important transition that honestly pertains to the same topic from above. But for some reason has been separated. Now I believe that is one of the ways the enemy has distorted what the word of GOD is actually saying. In verses 37 through 42 Jesus talks about judging others and how dangerous that is. But then HE tells us we will know a tree by its fruit. Which means we will have to elevate the fruit on the tree. It will have to be looked at. To determine whether or not it is a good tree or not. HE says, “A good person out of the treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his the mouth speaks.” The last group of scripture that we will look at this morning starts of with a statement that is powerful. In verses 46 through 49 HE says, “Why do you call me LORD LORD, and do not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me hears my words and does them. As HE continues HE talks about a house built on the rock. That rock is the truth that is found in GOD’S word alone. But you have to read the whole council.
Application:
When I first became a follower of Christ. It was easy to look at others and see what needed to change, forgetting all that had been changed in me, that honestly, I had nothing to do with. All I did was say yes, LORD, I will follow you. HE began to make changes in me that I had tried for years on my own to make, with no lasting results. My efforts seemed to be senseless. I was unable to change myself. I had to build on the one thing I knew would not fall. I needed to be connected to the vine. Now listen I don’t know about you but I want a tree that is producing fruit…. good fruit…. fruit that sustain and is not rotten. One thing I have found out over the years is that when I start looking at the flaws in others. My heart is out of alignment with the heart of GOD. Usually what I see in others are the same flaws I have inside of me. It’s just easier to see them in others because we have a misconception of who we are. In the recovery ministry there are 2 steps that have to do with self assessment… well to be honest all the steps have to do with that, but the 2 that bring it right out to the surface are step 4 and step 11. They have to do with inventory, looking at who you are, and being honest about it. In other words, we need to inspect our fruit. If our fruit is properly evaluated and pruned. What we will produce will be good. We have to meet others with the same grace we were given. The thing is most of us… Including me want to see all the stuff others are doing and focus on that so that we pay no attention to our own flaws. We are all broken and in need of someone to tell us what to do. I have found that person to be Jesus. I have found that when I do what HE says, no matter how others see me… I’m alright. Evaluating who you are without pride can be somewhat difficult, but it has to be done. Here are the questions we need to ask ourselves, what does my life look like to others, dose the fruit that is produced from it bring others closer to Christ, am I doing what HE says? Here is the thing just before where we started this SOAP this morning in verses 27 through 36 Luke talks about loving your enemies. I don’t know about anyone else but when GOD found me I was a dumb sheep that had gone astray. My head was stuck in a fence and I was crying out for help. HE pulled me out of that mess through HIS grace, and set my feet on the rock of who HE is. Now HE is my foundation, HE is my ever-present help, HE is the “I AM” I needed. My everything. Show others the same grace you were shown today.
Prayer:
Father, we know your word is sharper than any two-edged sword. It’s like a scalpel. Design to remove from us the things we don’t need. The thing is… we want our lives to be different than they were when you found us. We know that we are not where we should be, but we want to thank you that we are not where we used to be. Help us to do exactly what you have asked us to do and follow you. We want our lives to reflect the fact that we have spent time with you. We want our lives to be built on what you have done. You have changed our hearts, and therefore, our lives have changed. Let the fruit that comes from that be seen by all whom you bring across our path. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen