June 22: Matthew 7:15-20
Key Verse: Matthew 7:17
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Devotion:
How do you recognise bad people? Is it not from seeing or hearing the bad things they do or say? It is very easy to make wrong assumptions about people just by meeting them once, but as you get to know them better by being with them, their true colours will show through. Jesus had the advantage of being able to know the people before He met them in person but we do not have that luxury!
The same could be said about fruit trees – if you do not know the fruit trees by sight, you have to wait until they bear fruit before you will recognise them; that takes time. We may start out by thinking we know the fruit tree and tend to it as best we know how, then be disappointed when we get to know the truth about what kind of tree it is. Some fruit trees will not bear fruit unless they are cared for in the right manner…
We are going to meet some people in our lives whom we think are good and righteous people, but when we get to know them by being with them for long enough, we will find out the truth about what sort of people they actually are. God wants us to be wary of the people who act good but who are not good inside because they may fool us in the beginning and we may only find out the truth when it is too late!
To navigate this minefield of good and bad in our lives we need to have someone to guide us so we can avoid the bad and evil where possible. The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ to do that for us – but to gain from this relationship we need to listen to Him! Bring the Holy Spirit closer into your life and allow Him to guide you in the best ways forward.
Points to Ponder:
How do you tell good from bad?
Will you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you?
June 21: Matthew 7:13-14
Key Verse: Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Devotion:
How easily do you get distracted when you are trying to do an important job? I don’t know about you, but my mind is always spinning with many things going through it and concentrating on a single thing can be difficult for me unless it is something I enjoy or am very interested in. Even sitting down and reading God’s Word can be difficult for me at times...
It is little wonder then we are given this warning in amongst all the warnings about not judging and treating others correctly; we do have the offer of assistance from God through the Holy Spirit to get through our days and to be able to stick with the plan. We need to take every bit of assistance we can get – especially if we do find it difficult to keep going.
This brings up another important task we have in hand. Because the world is so ‘loud’ compared to the quietness of God and the Word, we can find it difficult to focus on the right thing and to even find the right ways of doing things. If we are all searching for this small sweet spot in our lives, then should we not be helping others if we do find it? What is the use of everyone going off to find the right way by themselves; if one of us should find it, then we should be guiding others toward it so they can find it more easily.
God does not want us to be alone with Him in heaven – He wants us to all be together with Him. If we are headed for a feast with Him in Heaven, then we should be sending out the invites for others to come and join us, giving them clear instructions on how to get there too. Jesus left us very clear instructions in the form of His Word...
Points to Ponder:
Would you like your friends and family to be with you in Heaven?
Are you handing out invitations?
June 20: Matthew 7:1-5
Key Verse: Matthew 7:4
How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
Devotion:
It is very easy to see the errors others make and very easy to think you can cover up the errors you make; but we need to remember there is someone watching us all the time, not waiting for us to make mistakes, but waiting for us to come to Him for our help and guidance. Part of that help and guidance is so we do not jump in to judge others.
I love the symbolism of these words used here. I don’t know if you have ever tried to read something when you get sand or other foreign objects blown into your eyes – it’s a bit difficult! This is the symbolism used here, when we have something wrong in our lives it is hard to be able to see the reality of someone else’s situation – maybe they are doing what they are because they think they have no other choice!
Part of our life is making choices when the going gets difficult. Christ has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance and help during those times when we do find it difficult. The Holy Spirit does not have anything to hold them back like we do, so they see the big picture in its correct light, and not jaded as we see because of the sin in our lives.
You may not think of the things wrong in your life when you are too busy focusing on what you see wrong in other’s lives, but when you stop to think about it, you will see the faults in your life. Christ is saying we need to sort those faults out before we can even think about picking the faults in other’s lives. Those little things wrong in our lives may be like a speck of sand, but that is enough to make you not see clearly!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you pick holes in other people's business?
Will you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you first of all?
June 19: Luke 8:27-33
Key Verse: Luke 8:33
When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
Devotion:
This is one of those strange stories which makes me stop and think a lot. Each time I try to write about it, I stop and allow myself to hear from the Holy Spirit because of the uncertainty in the way things happened… The demons possessing the man begged Jesus to allow them to enter into the pigs instead of being simply cast out. This is when people start asking questions like “why did Jesus allow that rather than just getting rid of the demons?”
Well, let’s take a look at the character of demons… Are they trustworthy? Are they honest? What would you have done? Jesus showed His compassionate side by allowing them to go into the pigs rather than being cast away; but then the pigs rush off into the lake and drown! I like to think Jesus knew they were going to try and make a run for it and purposely pointed the pigs in the direction of the lake first. The banks were too steep and once they started running, there was only one way it would end!
This should give us a pointer to never trust demons. To never believe what they say and to avoid them at all costs. Allow the professionals to deal with them… and I don’t mean people who make a living out of saying they cast out demons, I’m talking about people who call out to Christ to do the exercising. Christ has the power to do this and He is the one who is looking out for us. If we are willing to believe and trust in Him, then He will be faithful and deliver us from the evil (just as we prayer in The Lord’s Prayer)
Points to Ponder:
Do you trust Christ enough to keep you safe?
Will you place a bit more trust in what He can do for you?