Wednesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
Forgive and give emphasize the continual nature of these commands and go beyond not judging and not condemning to seeking the positive well-being of others. The result is it will be given (by God) in good measure (not meagerly), pressed down (filling all the space in the container), shaken (so that grain will settle and fill the container even more fully), running over (so that a rounded heap will form at the top). your lap. The folding of a man’s cloak with his arms underneath, forming a “container.” For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. In other words, God richly blesses such an attitude. Cf. Matt. 7:2; Mark 4:24.
Study Questions:
- The next point from Sunday was, "Don’t judge HARSHLY." Forgive and you will be forgiven, give and you will receive. Jesus is talking about having a gracious and generous spirit. If we have dealt with our own plank, then we will have the right heart to approach our brother about their speck. It brings us the humility needed to deal with things. When we assume the best about people, we will talk to them in a kind and compassionate way. Jesus was the perfect example of this principle, as he was FULL of both GRACE and TRUTH. Sometime we come way too heavy with truth and it can do damage to the relationship. Is this something you struggle with? Is there a relationship that you have damaged by coming in too hot with truth? Do you need to make any apologies? How do we make sure we go into these conversations with the right spirit in the future?
- When you have dealt with YOUR plank, “then you will see well enough." This means you will have the right heart and right spirit when approaching someone, which makes all the difference. This is especially true in a marriage relationship. When you approach your spouse, especially when it's a difficult conversation, your approach and spirit is everything. As Galatians 6 says, we should seek to deal with difficult situations with a "spirit of gentleness." So we check ourselves first, then approach others with humility, love and gentleness. Is there a difficult conversation that you need to have with someone? If so, take some time today and ask God to give you wisdom and discernment as to when, where and how to approach them.
Pray:
- That you would always approach people only AFTER dealing with your own stuff.
- That you would come at difficult conversations in humility and with the right spirit.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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