Grains of Sand

Google images I wonder what the difference sounded like? “ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as the teachers of the law ” (Matthew 7:28, 29). The sermon delivered on the mountainside had ended and the audience was left with their mouths open, their minds awhirl, and their hearts aflutter. This man, this Jesus, sounded inspired and the people knew the difference between Him and all the others who claimed to speak in the name of God—not too hard since Jesus was God in the flesh! The sermon had ended with a challenge and a warning. Jesus told the parable of the two men who had built houses; one whose foundation was laid on sand and another whose foundation was laid on the rock. When life got difficult the house built on sand collapsed while the other remained upright. Jesus summed up the parable and His teaching by warning the people listening to take heed to His words. “ But everyon...

“ 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, NIV. What’s that old saying? Who can fool all of the people all of the time, or some of the people all of the time, or none of the people all of the time? Luke reminds us that sooner or later the true character of a man will show itself. Oddly enough the verses that precede this announcement tell us that we shouldn’t judge. We are also reminded that we are certainly not to try to correct anyone else’s faults until we have taken care of our own. Perhaps the lesson is this: Don’t judge, wait a while. Evil will show itself eventually without you saying one single word. In the earlier verses the person who has the “speck of sawdust” (vs. 41) is referred to as a “brother,” a believer. In our verses for today there is a clear distinction between the “good” man and the “...

Jesus has some harsh words for those who operate in His name but who, instead of steering those seeking Him, actually keep people away. What a terrible thing to follow someone who claims to be a spiritual leader, only to discover that he's not going in the right direction. Jesus said: " Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven " —Matthew 7:21. Apparently these people are even able to perform miracles in God's name, but have never belonged to Him in the first place. Jesus describes them as " false prophets…in sheep's clothing " who are " ferocious wolves " —Matthew 7:15. They look good but their acts will show them to be what they really are. The miracles would look good to a seeker, but Jesus suggests that we look beyond the performance to the man who does the performing. This warning is tucked in between two of the strongest evangelistic ill...