Sermon Series: The Gospel of Luke
Sermon Text: Judging Like Jesus
Sermon Title: Luke 6:37-42
Daily Devotional Guide
This week's passage is perhaps one of the most referenced sections of the Bible. Sadly, it's also among the most misinterpreted. It's been used to justify all manner of sin. Even people who don't particularly care about the Bible love this passage. In their mind, this passage is just another version of the famous occultist Aleister Crowley's popular saying, "Do what thou wilt." Or put more simply, "You can't tell me what to do!"
Of course this isn't at all what the passage is saying. In fact, it's quite the opposite. A careful reading of the text shows that Jesus is actually telling his disciples to judge. Before that takes place, something else has to happen. We must examine our own lives before we go to war on the sins of others. Homosexuality is a sin. Rainbow colored crosswalks should make every believer mourn. But we aren't truly being the faithful warriors for Christ we think we are if we haven't yet dealt with our own sin. We aren't representing Christ well if we condemn the sin of so-called same-sex marriage only to watch our own heterosexual marriages go up in flames. Any rebuke of the culture must begin with personal repentance.
As you read, pray, and listen this week, ask God to reveal the cross to you through this passage. It is there where we find true mercy and grace. And it is from there where we find our model. The cross is the ultimate picture of God's judgment of sin. It also displays his grace and forgiveness. If we ever focus on one aspect of the cross at the expense of the other, we miss the gospel.
God hates sin and we must too.
But if all we ever do is hate the sins of the world while excusing our own, maybe we've grown a little more comfortable with the darkness than we'd like to admit.
Monday - Matthew 26:1-35
Tuesday - Matthew 26:36-75
Wednesday - Matthew 27:1-23
Thursday - Matthew 27:24-66
Friday - John 19:1-42
Saturday - John 20:1-31
Sunday - John 21:1-25