It is amazing to consider how many of Jesus’ teachings are integrated into society’s everyday life, even among those who don’t acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior.
Today’s reading from the One-Year Bible reminds me of just how wise Jesus was and of how much wiser I can become if I’ll remember to follow His teachings.
In Luke 6:39-49, Jesus uses four illustrations — some call them metaphors — that provide valuable lessons and that show His incredibly perceptive nature.
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“Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?”
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“How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite!”
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“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit.”
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“…anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
We hear these metaphors used by all sorts of people in all sorts of settings. And that’s a good thing.
For when somebody uses one of the above — even in an indirect reference — it will provide you an opportunity to ask if he or she knows the origin of the phrase.
It will probably surprise the person to know that Jesus was the Author of the phrases.
In fact, you just might be able to promote his or her interest in learning more everyday phrases that were coined by Jesus, such as “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7) or “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).
As you do this in gentle, time-appropriate ways, you will hopefully be fostering within your friend, relative or co-worker a growing admiration for the wisdom of Christ, the relevancy of the Bible and your reliability as a vessel of good and godly information.
Let’s each learn to better utilize the teachable moments that the Lord provides to us. The Kingdom of God will grow stronger and the reach of scripture will grow wider as we do.
As always, I love you
Martin
