Like the tree that grows upward, leaning toward the "sun", we should also grow upward, leaning toward the "Son".The Corrupt Tree VS. The Good Tree
Matthew 7:15-23 (The Message)
21-23"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'"
Notes: The message here is knowing "what" to say will not impress God. We can say all the right words but God's response will be remove yourself from me. What God require is serious obedience. A "corrupt tree" does things to make themselves feel important yet say it is to honor God. Those are the ones that God says will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Question: Why do you think God is more concerned with your obedience?
Answer: Obedience is important to God because this shows him that we truly love him. To say we love him, but refuse to obey him fully, we are only fooling ourselves. To know if you are a corrupt tree you must look at your motivations. Do you do things out of love? Or do you do things because you are going to be recognized? If you want to be different than the corrupt tree, then you can turn from that by yielding and obeying his word. Let us pray.
Prayer: Lord help us to obey you fully in everything we say and do so that we don't seek things for our own pleasure and importance. Lord help us so we don't miss the boat.
21-23"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'"
Notes: The message here is knowing "what" to say will not impress God. We can say all the right words but God's response will be remove yourself from me. What God require is serious obedience. A "corrupt tree" does things to make themselves feel important yet say it is to honor God. Those are the ones that God says will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Question: Why do you think God is more concerned with your obedience?
Answer: Obedience is important to God because this shows him that we truly love him. To say we love him, but refuse to obey him fully, we are only fooling ourselves. To know if you are a corrupt tree you must look at your motivations. Do you do things out of love? Or do you do things because you are going to be recognized? If you want to be different than the corrupt tree, then you can turn from that by yielding and obeying his word. Let us pray.
Prayer: Lord help us to obey you fully in everything we say and do so that we don't seek things for our own pleasure and importance. Lord help us so we don't miss the boat.
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