Key Verse: "The good man brings good things out of the
good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the
evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth
speaks."
Luke 6:45
Another choice that we face, as Jesus’ disciples, is who we
will listen too. This has actually been the only choice since the beginning.
Adam and Eve listened to the wrong voice and made the wrong choice in the Garden
of Eden. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon warns us of the call of wisdom and
folly over our lives and pleads with us to make the right choice. Our choice of
who to listen to, will bear the same consequences for our lives today as in the
days of Adam, Abram, Moses, Solomon, and on it goes.
God warned His people, before entering the land, that false
prophets, or leaders would come. He called His people to be discerning and not
be led astray by false teachings and religious practices.
Now, Jesus is again repeating this caution. "You will
know them by their fruit." At first, this may sound contradictory to
Jesus' earlier teaching about judging. However, there, Jesus had warned not to
condemn, not to judge the heart. The fruit, however is from the overflow of the
heart. It is what is produced for all to see. Judge that and discern whether it
is genuinely from God, or not.
This is why it is important to be in God's word, to be
familiar with His teachings and His leading. When you know what is real, it is
easy to discern what is not. If you don't know God's word, your task will be
more difficult.
Even God Himself, discerns between who is His and who is
not. We will revisit this theme later, in more depth, but let His
warning stand. "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will
enter the kingdom of heaven." The Lord is discerning and knows His own and
He calls us to do the same.
Hymn: "Revelation"
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