Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
A Tree
Is Identified
By Its Fruit
It is interesting that when a Christian decides to disregard
godly counsel and when he or she makes the decision to reject the godly counsel
and continue in a particular sin it is so very easy for that person to quote
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn
others, or it will all come back against you.” It is true that we are not to
judge and condemn. But it is also just as true that you and I are to help
brothers and sisters in Christ when they get hoodwinked into sin and veer off
God’s path.
Scripture
43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Observation
Love your enemies. Don’t judge others. Why
worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your eye? Luke
6 is loaded with great instruction for us to follow!
Even though we are not to judge or condemn others I think
that you and I are encouraged by Jesus to be fruit inspectors!
It is interesting that when a Christian decides to disregard
godly counsel and makes the decision to reject the godly counsel and continue
in a particular sin it is so very easy for that person to quote Luke 6:37 “Do
not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will
all come back against you.”
It is true that we are not to judge and condemn. But it is
also just as true that you and I are to help brothers and sisters in Christ
when they get hoodwinked into sin and veer off path.
So let me offer yet another thought that comes from Luke 6 and might be as helpful for you and it has been for me when it comes to helping other brothers and sisters in Christ.
You and I are not to condemn but we are supposed to inspect! “A tree is identified by its fruit! You are I are supposed to be “fruit inspectors”. Luke 6:44
If you have rejected godly counsel and if you are now trying to shield yourself by saying that they (whoever “they” might be) are just being judgmental maybe just maybe you ought to revisit God’s Word and reexamine the direction of your life.
Application
I
will continue to help brothers and sisters when I see them making ungodly
decisions. And if they reject my counsel I will continue to pray for them and
love them. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, You know how sad it makes me when a friend decides to continue to live
in sin even when they know that what they are doing is contrary to Your word.
When they reject me and reject all attempts to turn them away from the ungodly
direction that they are heading help me to remember to pray for them. Help me
not to be judgmental, but help me to be a good fruit inspector. Fill me with
Your love for people and give me compassion for them. I know that I am a sinner
and that I am capable of doing exactly what I am encouraging them to turn away
from. Guard my heart Lord. I know that what I say and what I do come from my
heart.
Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 11,12; Luke 6
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