June 16, 2015
Scripture: Luke 6:43-45
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.45A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Questions for Reflection:
Jesus practiced what we call cultural communication. He told his message in terms that the cultural would understand. The ancient Near Middle East was an agrarian society so he used the terms of agriculuture. What does he compare people to in this passage? Where does evil come from?
Jesus says it is not what we say that is evil, but the heart behind it that really contains the evil. In the teaching Sunday, Joseph Grenny said: “Candor is never the problem. People never become defensive about what you say. They become defensive because of why they think you said it. It is the intent, not the content that is the issue.” Reflect on your most challenging conversations in the last couple of days. Where was your heart in those conversations? Before you launch any more tough conversations, examine your heart and ask God to make sure your intent is right.