FEBRUARY 8 | LUKE 6:46-49

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:46-49

---

REFLECTION

WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDER

By Diane Ward

When my son passed away unexpectedly, it felt like an earthquake, nothing was stable or solid for a long time. Often the storms of life follow with a great calm. Circumstances of life come to all. What are we standing on? James (verse 1:17) said ”God’s promises do not change like shifting sands.” I was never afraid of heights standing on a scaffold hanging wallpaper or stepping into shifting sands as I was skiing in murky water. I know the feeling of unsure footing. Through the years I have learned to lean on God, to rest in Him and calm my soul. Life is fragile. “Fear not the storm!” (Matthew 10:28)

Jesus told a story about two home builders. They had similar supplies and plans and identical aspirations. Each wanted to build a house. One preferred the cheap and easily accessed land of sand. The other opted for the more expensive yet more durable foundation of stone. 

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Rain came down, streams rose, and winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not fall because it had its foundation built on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

Jesus is the Builder, the Architect, and the Cornerstone. He is Petra, “Peter, on this rock I will build my church, and not even death will be able to overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18) The disciples on the Sea of Galilee were in a fierce storm, fearing to sink. Jesus came to them walking on the water. "This was the first time the disciples worshiped Jesus, they exclaimed, “'Truly you are the Son of God!'” (Matthew 14:32)

When we were children, we sang; “The wise man built his house upon a rock and the rain came tumbling down.” God smiles on His children in the eye of the storm. (Psalm 138:7) Fear not the storm currently sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm and there will be rich fruit in the afterward. (Henry Ward Beecher.)

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your Presence in the storms of Life. We could not withstand them alone. Amen.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DIANE WARD

I love to research and learn something new I hadn’t considered. From 2015 through present, I continue to write on fifth Fridays. Bless us all who write and share the Word of God! We never know who might find peace and grace along the way, including us!

---

February 7 | Luke 6:37-45

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:37-45

---

REFLECTION

The Heart Will Always Reveal its Contents

by Ken Dillman

Jesus is an expert on matters of the heart. The four Gospels record Jesus over fifty times addressing issues of the human heart. The God, “by whom all things were created,” (John 1:3) knows what makes you and me tick.

The heart is the seat of our spiritual being; it’s the soul, the mind, the central location within us that contains our thoughts, desires, affections, and passions; it’s what compels us to be the person that we are.

In today’s text, Luke captures Jesus’ teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, in which he acknowledges that the heart will always reveal its contents; “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (ESV)

What a beautiful thing it is when the Christ-follower allows goodness to flow from the riches of his/her heart, into the lives of others, the kind Jesus acknowledged when he said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matt. 25:35)

Our “good treasure” is seen and heard in our kindness, gentleness, and compassion toward others. Jesus warns of the judgmentalism, bitterness, harshness, and condemnation that may be seen and heard in the “evil treasure” residing in our heart. The mouth will at some point tell the world what’s really in our heart.

As a Christ-follower our goal is sanctification that transforms us into someone who looks and lives more like the Teacher. It is our goal. The apostle Paul taught that this happens when we are “transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2)

As we stroll through the Produce Aisle at Kroger, we have a general understanding that the polished fruit in the bins came from a certain kind of tree; a tree that is rotten at its core cannot produce good fruit, a tree that is good will not produce rotten fruit.  

What kind of fruit producers are we?

Do people get a taste of our good fruit, so much so that it tastes like Jesus?

I pray they do.

PRAYER

Father, by your Spirit, help us to live in the way of the Master, Jesus Christ your Son. Lord, replace anything corrupt in our hearts with your goodness and light. Help us to be producers of good fruit, that the world might see our good and great Savior Jesus.

---

---

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.

FEBRUARY 6 | LUKE 6:27-36

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:27-36

---

REFLECTION

Upsy-Daisy

by Judy Webb

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35 NLT)

We live in an upside-down world where good is often considered bad, and bad is portrayed as good. We, as Christians, need to take a moment to think this through using God’s Word for a vehicle of discernment. Most assuredly this concept isn’t found anywhere in the Scriptures as right thinking. Many are confused about things that once were very clear.

Our scripture reading for today is painting a picture for us of right thinking. An idea which we have strayed from practicing. Some of us have forgotten what ‘good’ means. Here are a few examples from today’s text:

· Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (v.27)

· Pray for those who hurt you (v.28)

· If someone slaps you—turn the other cheek (v.29)

· Don’t pursue revenge (v.30)

· Practice the Golden Rule (v.31)

These commands run counter to our up-side down thinking and is causing great disorder! What can you or I do to make things right again (right-side up)? Just maybe by gently adjusting our thinking and returning to simpler ways and embracing truth while rejecting lies.

There is a song from the musical, “Annie Get Your Gun” which boasts about doing what comes naturally. The example in those lyrics address our sinful nature. Sin comes naturally to us until we learn otherwise.

During my study the past few days I have been drawn to Psalm 1 where I was reminded of those days before I knew God’s Word, before understanding began to dawn. I now see that I had been living so many years doing what came naturally.

Verse four opened up before me:

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, whose delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord, and who meditates on His law, day and night. Psalm 1:1-2)

PRAYER

Lord, I want to meditate on your way all the time. I want to understand how doing so will change me and then I can attempt to change my own little world. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me with a desire for Your Word and an understanding of how this will change everything!

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

---

JUDY WEBB

I have been a member of UALC for 26 years and have been writing devotions for this site for about 17 of them. Writing is my passion. As retired staff I still love everything about UALC and its members including my small group.

---