Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
December 29, 2021
Read Luke 6:37-49
37 “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” 39 Jesus also told them a riddle. “A blind person can’t lead another blind person, right? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40 Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, but whoever is fully prepared will be like their teacher. 41 Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s or sister’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Brother, Sister, let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the log in your own eye? You deceive yourselves! First, take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye. 43 “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. 44 Each tree is known for its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants, nor do they pick grapes from prickly bushes. 45 A good person produces good from the good treasury of the inner self, while an evil person produces evil from the evil treasury of the inner self. The inner self overflows with words that are spoken. 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I say? 47 I’ll show what it’s like when someone comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice. 48 It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. 49 But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed.”
Good Morning! Forgive and you will be forgiven!
Once again, we approach the end of another year. This passage is a great preview of the message that I am preparing for Sunday. People come to Christ at different times in their lives. Some have been Christians for as long as they remember. This group can not usually tell you a specific time when they gave their lives to Christ. Others came to Christ later in their lives. This group can often give detailed specifics regarding their conversion. How or when is not the most important part of this conversation. The acceptance of Christ, regardless of the details, is the bedrock of our faith journey.
Jesus is sharing with those who are listening to him, the ABCs of being a Christian. He starts with the basics of doing this, not this, but he closes with the essential piece of the puzzle. After accepting Christ as our Lord, we must begin “building” a strong foundation that will not only withstand the storms that will come in our lives, but that will also withstand the passage of time.
Most of us have engaged in some new interest with great enthusiasm but over time the interest wanes and we lose the desire to continue on that path. In the next few days, many people will make New Year’s resolutions to make some kind of change in their lives. Often these resolutions represent something that we should do to improve our physical, mental, or spiritual health. This is a good thing to do. However, only those who truly commit to the change they are trying to make will succeed.
To truly commit to a change, we must lay the groundwork upon which we can build. To become a Christian is so much more than going to church regularly, singing in the choir, or even being on a committee. We must begin by methodically building that foundation through conversations with God, reading scripture, and building relationships with God and within the community of faith.
Sometimes we ask someone for directions, and then realize that we didn’t really understand when we are facing a dead-end. Sometimes, this failure results in us giving up and going home. When we read the map for ourselves, we are more likely to strengthen our grasp on how to proceed.
With Christ, the greatest thing is that when we reach a dead-end, we can call upon him and he will be there to lead us if we are ready to listen and follow his words. It’s all about the relationship we build upon that firm foundation. When we call “Lord, Lord”, we should be ready to listen and follow.
Creator God, Thank You for loving us. We are working to build that firm foundation, but sometimes we become distracted or discontent. Be with us during our struggles. Let us learn through our challenges to trust you. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: With Christ’s help, I can change the world.
Be the change you want to see in the world! Pastor Liz
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