Devotion
A Tree is Known by its Fruit
Frances Taylor
We have often heard the phrase, "By their fruits you shall know them." Perhaps you weren't aware that it comes from Luke's gospel. But this phrase refers to much more than trees, as you can see. The truly gentle person does not make fun of people even in jest. He or she knows that put downs aren't funny, they are cruel. We have all been exposed to people who think that sexually charged jokes, racial and ethnic slurs are acceptable, but they also are not. I once took a trip to Tanzania and was told by my sister who had been there many times, not to make any negative comments about anything because the people of Tanzania do not and wouldn't understand why anyone else would. I found this to be true and it was a privilege to walk among such kind people.
We also need to be reminded that, as Christians, we are held accountable for what we say and do. As Christians, we represent Jesus walking today among the people of the world. A good question to ask ourselves is, "Would I follow and listen to someone who acts and speaks as I do?" If Jesus expects us to lead others to him, we need to take responsibility for how we act. Would others describe us as good, kind, forgiving, compassionate, and loving? I'm hoping no one would ever describe me as evil, but I know that I am not always the person God wants me to be. How about you?
Prayer
Gracious God, help me to be a better example of your son Jesus so as to lead others toward him and not be an obstacle to anyone's ability to come to you. Amen.
Devotion
Be Prepared
Frances Taylor
What will we be doing when the Master comes? Will we be faithful servants waiting for our Lord's return, or will we be waiting until we're older or sick, or dying? The parable goes on to tell how much more so, if he comes in the second or third watch. As the year winds down we will continue to be reminded to be prepared to meet God. There is a song that was popular several years ago called "Live Like We're Dying." Although not specifically geared toward being prepared to die, it does invite us to live each moment of every day loving others, letting those we love know it and not wasting a single second. In fact the song tells us exactly how many seconds there are in a day – 36,400! If we knew we were dying, who would we want to spend time with or who do we need to forgive? Who needs to know that we love them? If you had answers for these questions, then what are you waiting for? What do we need to do to prepare for eternity? How is our prayer life? ...
