Truth

Matthew 7

Let me start by saying how wonderful it is to read what my savior spoke so many years ago.  Everything uttered from his mouth is relevant to my spiritual growth.

This chapter starts off with a command and then defines the repercussions for disobeying.  Do not judge, or you will be judged by the same measure you used to judge in the first place. Instead of focusing on others faults, focus on your own faults. If we would spend a tenth of our time working on the areas God wants to grow us instead of always focusing on the negatives of others, our spiritual lives would grow by leaps and bounds.

Once we are able to identify these faults we must ask God to show us how to correct them. Jesus even states, “Ask and it will be given to you”.  Our heavenly Father want to help you out of the oppressions you have placed on yourself, but first you must ask.

Verses 13 and 14 talk about two gates, one to life and one that leads to destruction. I think we sometimes forget the gates are a choice and no choice is really a choice to destruction. We have to choose the narrow gate. We have to make a conscious decision to choose the road less traveled. The scripture says few find this narrow gate.  Have you found it? What is stopping you from choosing the right gate?

The world will recognize you by the fruit you bear. Good trees do not produce bad fruit.  The scripture even goes as far as to say good trees cannot bear bad fruit.  Cannot = unable to.  So why do we produce bad fruit?  Is it because we have not given ourselves completely to the one who loves us so dearly?  It is not enough to do good deeds.  you have to personally know Jesus. If you do not know Jesus you will never know the will of God. Jesus says that only those who do the will of God will enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Finally Jesus tells us that we not only need to hear His words, but actually put them into practice. What area in your life are you not putting Jesus’ words into practice? Would Jesus tell you today “I never knew you”? Are you bearing good fruit? Are you choosing the narrow gate? Are you asking your Heavenly Father for the things you need? Are you cleaning up your faults?