3-18-2016

Good Morning All!!                 

          Matthew 7:20; “Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

    With the NCAA college basketball tourney going on; there was an interesting clip on a sports show.  A sports broadcaster misspoke when talking about South Dakota State University.  As a gesture of conciliation, he wore an outfit supporting SDSU.  Then he found out they were playing his alma mater in the first round of the playoffs.  If SDSU can pull it off, he will never live it down.

    Everyone involved knows where his heart and true support lies; it is with his alma mater.  Yet what if he were to wear the SDSU gear, sit with the SDSU fans and yell for SDSU?  Even if he claims to be for his alma mater; it would sure look different.  His actions are saying something different than his words.  He can talk and talk but his actions say something different.

    This is true in our faith life as well.  A person’s actions show his faith.  A person who says he loves God but hates his neighbor cannot love God; his actions show something different than he says.  A person who sits in church on Sunday morning but walks by someone in need is showing what his true faith is; it shows in his actions.  A person cannot profess to love Jesus and his fellow man then turn his back on his fellow man.  The action shows the truth.

    This is based on a simple understanding and that is your beliefs drive your actions.  If you really believe that helping your neighbor is what your faith is then you will do it.  If you do not truly believe this then you will find ways around it.  You will rationalize or obfuscate in order to avoid it or you will try and figure out the minimum that you can do and get away with it and still appear to be holy and faithful.  You may convince your fellow church goers but God sees into the heart and knows the truth.

    What exists in our heart, what is the source of our faith is always displayed by our actions.  How we behave always displays our belief.  These two go hand in hand.  This is why we are told that a tree is known by its fruit.  It produces according to its kind.  This is what it means, how we act reflects our faith.  It may only reflect our faith at that fleeting moment.  It may only be a momentary failure; it doesn’t necessarily reflect your permanent expression of faith; that is part of being the sinful saint. 

    At times we fail, because our faith is weak but God forgives, restores, renews and encourages us to strengthen our faith. To live a life that is closer to him and in greater communion with him.  He heals us so that the fruit that we produce is true and honors him.  He heals us so that we may remain in his holy family.

Father of all mercy; lead us to produce the fruit that is honorable and holy in your eyes.  Guide us to be your hands, your shoulders and your voice on this earth.  Lead us to bring your healing to this broken world.  Guide us by your Spirit to offer this suffering world your hope and peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret