Monday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 6:43-45
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.
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.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
6:43–45 A Tree and Its Fruit. This teaching can be taken in either of two ways. In one sense, observing good and bad fruit allows one to judge wisely in dealing with others. In another sense, it applies to the disciples themselves, for the fruit of a bad tree involves judging and condemning others while the fruit of a good tree involves forgiving and giving to others and loving one’s enemies (cf. Luke 8:8, 15; 13:6–9). Either way, the difference between a good and a bad tree involves the heart (6:45). out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The true nature of people’s hearts can often be seen when they speak off-the-cuff, without reflection.
Study Questions:
- Jesus gives us one of two illustrations that reveal what authentic faith really looks like. Many people are fooling themselves, pretending to be something they aren't. A tree is identified by the fruit that it produces. What we talk about, spend our time doing, spend our money on and our priorities reveal where our heart really is. Be honest with yourself! Do you have a passion for knowing, worshiping and serving Jesus? Do you love spending time with your church family? Do you enjoy spending time in his Word?
- The fruit of your life reveals your reality. Jesus' remarks are not designed to examine individual moments in life, but the pattern of a life-long walk with God. Jesus is saying that if you are truly seeking transformation in your life, victory over sin and repentance from apathy, you can't approach it as if it were a superficial, external matter. It's a matter of the heart. Pharisees concentrated on rituals, religious routine and systems, as if just by doing step one, two and three they would be right with God. They thought the "DO" would change "WHO". But real transformation, love for God and authentic faith come from a changed heart! And then, a change in WHO produces a new DO. Does the fruit of your life indicate that you might need a heart change? In what areas?
Pray:
- That our lives would produce the kind of fruit that proves we are faithful followers of Jesus.
- That we would learn to be honest with ourselves when it comes to what kind of fruit our lives are producing and make changes when necessary.
This week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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