Today’s Reading: Matthew 11:20-30
Out of faith comes healing…
Out of compassion comes healing and then perhaps faith…
Out of faith comes forgiveness, which brings healing…
Out of faith comes wisdom, which produces holiness…
When a volcano erupts, the natural outflow of the eruption is lava. When anger is allowed to grow, hate grows as well. When bees work together in community, the natural outflow is the production of honey. When communities come together after tragedy strikes, the natural outcome is love. When spring brings a great amount of rain into a region, the natural outcome is high waters and flooded streets. That same rain also encourages the growth of crops and fills the lakes with the water needed to maintain a healthy level throughout the summer heat.
WHAT IS THE NATURAL OUTFLOW OF OUR LIVES AND THE STORMS WE EXPERIENCE?
“But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” – Matthew 11:19b
These are the words of Jesus to the crowd of people as he called them to a holy lifestyle. Luke tells of the same moment in a slightly different way: “But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it” (Luke 7:35).
What a great way to start my morning – a cup of coffee with a challenge to inspect my heart and the results of my daily life. The evidence of wisdom can be found in the way we live out our lives.
Jesus went on to call out those communities of people who had seen all of the miracles he had performed, yet continued to live their lives by their own desires and for their own purposes.
“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” – Matthew 11:21-24
I cannot help but feel like Jesus is talking to the church and to the Christian community. Those of us who have been blessed to have experienced the presence of God in a worship service or to have witnessed God’s healing power in the lives of others should be the first to submit to our Savior and live the righteous life He calls us to. To have experienced God’s blessings and then reject him as Lord is a serious offense.
ONCE WE HAVE MET JESUS, ONCE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED GOD, HIS PLAN IS FOR US TO FOLLOW HIM.
This righteous life is not a set of rules or a religion, it is a relationship. Right living flows from the heart that has seen God at work and desires nothing more than to serve Him every day. It is not a standard or measurement, it is an authentic effort to get to know God and to spend time with Him and to live your life connected to the One who created all things.
“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:27-30
Lord, we come to you this morning weary from our efforts to produce a righteousness of our own. We come to you ready to rest in your presence and lay our heavy burdens at your feet. Teach us and fill us with your wisdom. Produce righteousness in our hearts so that our character reflects your essence. We submit to your Lordship and give you praise, for your yoke is easy to bear and your burden is light.