In The Word
Read: Luke 6:37-49
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. 43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Builders and Foundations
46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
There are so many rich parables in our reading today, but I’d like to focus on two. First, the parable of the speck and log; second, what is your foundation.
So many people use the speck and log parable to defend themselves when being confronted about some sin in their life. The problem is that Jesus says once the person with the log in their eye has addressed their issue, then it is totally fine to address the speck in yours. It really is a reality check for both persons. The person addressing specks should make sure the life they lead in public and private is holy before the Lord. What is your motive for speck removals? Is it love or your sense of superiority? If the motive is love, the person should be approached in that manner of trying to help them. When you have a speck, be grateful someone loved you enough to bring it up.
As far as foundations are concerned, if there is one place in the world that home foundations are important, it is Louisiana. The soil and moisture is a nightmare for contractors, and there is no worse problem than seeing cracks in a foundation affecting building level, septic lines, and pest issues. It’s the same with us: what is your foundation built on? Is it Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, or some religious beliefs you’ve been practicing since your birth? There must be a day when you remember giving your life to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He is the only way, any other foundation will fail!