Don't Miss the Way, Watch the Fruit, Build on the Rock!
Matthew 7:13-29
Jesus
warns that it is easy to miss the way to life. The gate is narrow and
the road is rough. There are also false prophets along the way who look
like sheep, but are really wolves. Watch what they do, don't just
listen to what they say. Jesus says "you can recognize them by their deeds",
YET these people cast out demons, preach the gospel, and do miracles in
the name of Jesus. So what fruit does Jesus have in mind when he says "you can know them by their fruit"?
The fruit of obedience. A life and lifestyle obedient to the commands
of Jesus. Submission to the Lordship of Jesus, obedience to his
teachings is the mark of a true servant of Christ.
Lord, Help me to walk the
narrow hard way of following you. Help me to build my life and ministry
on the rock of your teachings. I want to obey you in every aspect of my
life. Lord, I don't know how this fits with total reliance on grace,
but I believe there is no contradiction. Help me to rely 100% on your
grace. Produce your life, your fruit in my life. Create in me a heart
of flesh, eager to obey. By your Holy Spirit, energize me, empower me.
Lord, I know you'll do more than I ask or dream. Thank you.
Matthew
7:13-29 Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide,
and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go
through that gate. (14) But the gate to life is very narrow. The road
that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.
(15) Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside
they are wolves who have come to attack you. (16) You can tell what
they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes.
(17) A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad
fruit. (18) A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot
produce good fruit. (19) Every tree that produces bad fruit will be
chopped down and burned. (20) You can tell who the false prophets are
by their deeds. (21) Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into
the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will
get in. (22) On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They
will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out
demons and worked many miracles." (23) But I will tell them, "I will
have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"
(24) Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise
person who built a house on solid rock. (25) Rain poured down, rivers
flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall,
because it was built on solid rock. (26) Anyone who hears my teachings
and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on
sand. (27) The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew
and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash. (28) When
Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching.
(29) He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their
teachers of the Law of Moses.
10:26:01 AM 
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