8.2.25 Luke 6:43-49

Prepare

Let's pray together. Father, you call us to build our lives on your truth. Help us today to not only hear your words, but to live them out.

Read – Luke 6:43-49

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Reflect

Imagine standing before Jesus and he speaks these words. He invites you to examine your heart. Invites you to examine the words of your mouth.

What would you feel? How would you feel? Would you feel embarrassed? Would feel ashamed? Would you feel quite proud? Quite happy about how? What's coming out of your mouth and what's in your heart? The reflection of what's coming from your mouth. We all fail. We all say things we shouldn't. We all react badly. And the invitation is, of course, to look out for that. But it's more to think what's in our heart that's producing that. Why are we putting people down? Why are we angry? Why are we reacting as we do? This Jesus wants to change this heart of ours to make it pure, to make it a living, loving heart.

Be

So let's reflect for a minute. What in your heart needs to be transformed today by Jesus? Think of one thing you think I really need to work on this one thing.

Become

The truth is that God invites us to partner with him to change our hearts. So you've thought of one thing. Now let's ask God to change our hearts. To fill us with his truth and with his presence.

Holy spirit, fill my heart with your truth. Help me to build my life on Jesus, my sure foundation. Jesus shape my heart, may my actions match my faith. 

May my life bear good fruit. Reflecting your love and truth. May my words, thoughts, and actions today show that I am rooted in Christ. May I actively live out which Jesus had taught me.

 Do

Now, as we finish our time together, shall we think of one way in which we are going to counteract what it's been in our hearts? One way in which we are going to fight back. Those aspects of the heart which we don't like that much. We just prayed about it. Maybe we can act on it as well. So if we are prone to get angry easily, maybe show peace to someone.

If we are prone, if we tend to put down people and speak badly about them. Maybe think of the person that you've spoken badly about and speak wonders about them to someone, or encourage them in some way. As we finish, we just pray together. God, we offer you our hearts today. We offer you our mouths. We offer you our actions. May we today bear good fruit for your kingdom. Amen.

Practice:

Spend time asking God to show you what’s growing in your heart.

Where in your life do you need to practice what Jesus has spoken?

Who around you needs to see the love of Jesus through your actions today?.