Sunday, January 22, 2012 - Luke 6:43-45

[Tek7]

“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

Luke 6:43-45, HCSB

Continuing with the theme from last Sunday, I selected this verse as a challenge not only to Verse of the Day Forum readers, but also to myself: Is my life producing results of Christ's redemptive work in me? Am I working to rearrange my life around Christ or am I trying to fit Christ in to my plan for my own life?

It is one of the greatest errors of the modern church to imply that Christians can attend one service a week, carry on as they did before they accepted Christ as savior, and not suffer the consequences. Yes, God shows us mercy, but how many wonderful things are we missing out on by refusing His plan in favor of our own?

There will most certainly be suffering in service; the lives of all the great heroes of faith provide irrefutable evidence to the point. Yet our suffering will be for the greatest cause rather than without purpose. Christ never promised escape from suffering, but rather a purpose--and a divine comfort--for the suffering we endure.

 

[Abba San]

Yep - attendance is not enough...worship - fellowship - discipleship - service - sharing - participating in all is what makes us followers of Jesus. Thanks.