No Way to Win Their Hearts
"What shall I say about the people of this time? What can I
compare them to? What are they like? The people of this time
are like children sitting in the market place. One group of
children calls to the other children and says, 'We played
flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad
song, but you did not cry.' John the Baptizer came and did
not eat {like other people} or drink wine. And you say, 'He
has a demon inside him.' The Son of Man came eating {like
other people} and drinking wine. And you say, 'Look at him!
He eats too much and drinks too much wine! He is a friend of
the tax collectors and other bad people!' But wisdom is shown
to be right by the things it does."
-- Luke 7:31-35 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus was not going to win the hearts of those who had decided not to
believe. Jesus and John were very opposite in demeanor and style yet
those who refused to believe rejected each of them, oftentimes using
their "style" as their excuse. Jesus confronts them and basically says
(in my own good ol' cornbread English), "You're not going to believe
because you don't want to believe!" As Jesus so often did, he reminds
anyone who will listen that the real proof of character is seen in
fruit produced in the life of a person. When you look at the fruit of
their lives, both John and Jesus show they are from God, regardless of
their differing styles.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy God, please forgive me for judging others based on their personal
style and demeanor. I don't want to ever reject, judge, or be
unsupportive of your servants. In addition, dear Father, help my life
consistently bear fruit for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
"What shall I say about the people of this time? What can I
compare them to? What are they like? The people of this time
are like children sitting in the market place. One group of
children calls to the other children and says, 'We played
flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad
song, but you did not cry.' John the Baptizer came and did
not eat {like other people} or drink wine. And you say, 'He
has a demon inside him.' The Son of Man came eating {like
other people} and drinking wine. And you say, 'Look at him!
He eats too much and drinks too much wine! He is a friend of
the tax collectors and other bad people!' But wisdom is shown
to be right by the things it does."
-- Luke 7:31-35 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus was not going to win the hearts of those who had decided not to
believe. Jesus and John were very opposite in demeanor and style yet
those who refused to believe rejected each of them, oftentimes using
their "style" as their excuse. Jesus confronts them and basically says
(in my own good ol' cornbread English), "You're not going to believe
because you don't want to believe!" As Jesus so often did, he reminds
anyone who will listen that the real proof of character is seen in
fruit produced in the life of a person. When you look at the fruit of
their lives, both John and Jesus show they are from God, regardless of
their differing styles.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy God, please forgive me for judging others based on their personal
style and demeanor. I don't want to ever reject, judge, or be
unsupportive of your servants. In addition, dear Father, help my life
consistently bear fruit for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.