Father, I set Your gift to me – Monday’s post – before another group of people and they are responding! Isaiah 55:11 tells me what You will do with it! Amen and amen!
I send [my word] out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (NLT)
Luke 6:43-45 (<<click to read the passage)
More than 30 years ago, we moved to where we now live. At that time, it wasn’t much to look at, but it sure had a lot of potential! We have invested a lot of time, energy and resources to make it the beautiful home that it now is. And of course, homes demand regular attention to maintain their beauty and quality.
When we first moved here, our only source of water was from a well. It was a good well in that even after a couple of years of not being used it was still very viable. But…we couldn’t use it. Because it had not been used, it needed to be disinfected.
We had to have our well checked for total coliform bacteria. I read, “These bacteria are good indicators of sanitary protection of the well and water system because they are everywhere on the surface of the ground, but do not usually occur past a few feet into the soil. If they show up in a water test, they can indicate that surface contamination has gotten into the water and that disease-causing microorganisms may be present. Just as disinfection kills most disease-causing microorganisms, it also kills coliform bacteria.”
At that time, it was recommended that we pour a couple of gallons of chlorine bleach down the well to kill the bacteria that were present.
Here’s the point, we are born “diseased”
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NLT)
As it is written and forever remains written, “There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.
…since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:10,23 (AMP)
And, just like our well, if we are to become “disinfected” someone has to help us. There is no way we can do it ourselves.
While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly.
But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6, 8 (AMP)
And as today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel points out. There is no way to hide the state of our hearts.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45 (NLT)
We may be able to cover up for a time but eventually, the truth will come out.
And just for the record, it works both ways.
…for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also. Matthew 6:21 (AMP)
Lord Jesus, help us to disinfect the disease that ravages our souls. May we allow You to bleach us as white as snow! And then may we pour forth pure and potent water from the treasury of our hearts!
Feb 24th, 2020, Mon, 1:17 pm
