Luke 6 [continued]

The message that Jesus teaches here is so profound... and so impossible to do on our own.  To love our enemies, to return good for evil, to give and give and give...
 And, He is has more for us to ponder:

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." 
If you don't judge others, you won't be judged.
If you don't condemn others, you won't be condemned.
If you do pardon others, you will be pardoned.
"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. "

In other words, we reap what we sow.  If we sow mercy and forgiveness, if we love and give gracious ly.. our Father will treat us in the same way.   But, if we are judgmental and condemning... then we will get that back.  We need to be aware of what is coming out of our hearts.. and our mouths ( v45)
 "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." 

We won't find our way, Jesus says, by blindly following a blind guide!
We need to be fully trained by a teacher who will teach us the right way.  Jesus is the Way and we need to carefully follow Him.  By doing what He says, we will build an unshakable foundation for our lives...

Here is the test of what is in our hearts --- good fruit will come from a good tree and a good heart.
Bad fruit will not come from a good heart.
Good fruit will not come from a bad heart.
What is inside of us... will come to light.. we cannot hide our true character.

How do we change our hearts?  We don't - He does!  That's what the good news is all about!  He will fill our hearts with good when we repent and allow Him to take the logs out of our eyes! When we are made new creatures through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father in heaven, You have shown us mercy and forgiven our sin.  Thank You.  We choose to show mercy and forgiveness to others.  You have given us this powerful teaching and we choose now to not only hear it.. but to act on it... to do what Jesus says.. to love, to give, to forgive, and to show compassion.  We choose to not condemn or judge others, to deal with our own sins and not be hypocritical by focusing on the sins of others.   I confess to You, Lord, that I have not been merciful to all as You have called me to be, nor have I acted on Your word as You have called me to... forgive me, Lord.  Help me to be Your faithful.. and good servant I pray, in Your Name, the Name of Jesus, my Lord, amen.