January 17, 2025 | Be God's Family
The Real You
Scripture: Matthew 7:15-29(NIV)
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Devotional
Be authentic.
Bear good fruit.
Do God’s will.
Put Christ’s words into practice.
A life lived in submission and obedience to the Lord is like a tree with deep roots, like a house with a good foundation. It will stand the test of time into eternity.
When I was growing up, our family lived on three acres of land, a property that was just over 130 feet wide, but 1000 feet deep. Along the entire 1000 feet on the south side of the property was a row of Osage orange trees, otherwise known as hedge apple trees. But don’t be fooled. They are neither oranges nor apples. Rather, the trees produce sticky, milky, bumpy green fruits that are good for nothing except my dad telling me to pick them up and throw them into the fence row so they don’t damage the lawn mower. I tossed thousands of them out of our yard every year, using the trees themselves for improving my accuracy in throwing a baseball from third to first base. I hated those trees.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing.
A tree bearing bad fruit.
A church performer who doesn’t even know Jesus.
A house built on a foundation of sand.
Are there any inauthentic parts of your Christian life? What needs to be completely overhauled to bring you into alignment with Jesus?
Poem
A Home On The Hillside
Psalm 128
A home on the hillside
Full set in the sun
An orchard well planted
With olive fruit hung
Its pillars full planted
In bedrock for strength
Its table full laden
Its doorway well planked
Its rooms filled with laughter
All arms filled with love
With love as its cover
Its roofing above
When rains come, its fire
Continues to warm
Its residents, comfort,
All knowing no harm
For righteousness lives there
And sits by each bed
This home always blessed
With Christ as its head
