Key Thought

So often in modern Western culture, intention counts for more than action and emotion means more than effort. Into our self-absorbed and interior culture, Jesus comes and weds intention and action, emotion and effort. Simply being moved by Jesus' words, simply being convicted of the truth, or simply intellectually accepting what Jesus says is destructive. Jesus says that passion, conviction, and faith without life-change, obedience, and action are futile. This vain faith, emotion, and conviction aren't merely short-sighted or lacking; they are self-destructive, wasteful, and disastrous. Faith that doesn't call us to act, emotion that doesn't move us to effort, and conviction that doesn't motivate us to change are empty, void, and vain. Such "religion" becomes an inoculation against holiness, godly character, and redemptive action. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus would come to us today and say our greatest need is to learn to obey humbly and thankfully.

Today's Prayer

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Forgive me, Father, forgive us, Father, for our attention to words, emotions, and passions while ignoring our need to obey. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, please, dear Father, move me to make my emotions, convictions, and beliefs consistent with your will and true in my actions. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"A good tree does not give bad fruit. Also, a bad tree does not give good fruit. Each tree is known by the fruit it gives. People don't gather figs from thorny weeds. And they don't get grapes from bushes! A good person has good things saved in his heart. And so he brings good things out of his heart. But an evil person has evil things saved in his heart. So he brings out bad things. A person speaks the things that are in his heart. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but you are not doing what I say? Every person that comes to me and listens to my teachings and obeys--I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. The floods come, and the water tries to wash the house away. But the flood cannot move the house, because the house was built well (strong). But the person that hears my words and does not obey is like a man that does not build his house on rock. When the floods come, the house falls down easily. And the house is completely destroyed."

— Luke 6:43-49 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.