• • Scripture Focus: Psalm 119:132-135  Luke 6:37-42

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40

A Teacher’s pet is “a student in a class who is liked best by the teacher and therefore treated better than the other students.” (Cambridge Dictionary – https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/teacher-s-pet)

 

• • WELCOME:  to Central Church of Christ, not a place, but a people called out to show God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family.   I appreciate Bob being so willing to share a message of faith last week from modern science and astronomy. As we shift  from a wonderful Christmas season to thinking about the new year of 2022, we want to focus on New Beginnings and Psalm 119 is the perfect place to begin!  As listed on BibleStudy.org, the number 8 is widely recognized as the number of “New Beginnings” and with all 176 poetic verses in Psalm 119 organized into groups of 8, I very well say that Psalm 119 is a great place to begin again in the new year.  Today we look at the commands nearer to the end of Psalm 119.  To New Beginnings – A Teachable Heart –

 

Pe

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;

    therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;

    it imparts understanding to the simple.

131 I open my mouth and pant,

    because I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

    as is your way with those who love your name.

133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

    and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

134 Redeem me from man’s oppression,

    that I may keep your precepts.

135 Make your face shine upon your servant,

    and teach me your statutes.

136 My eyes shed streams of tears,

    because people do not keep your law.

2 Chronicles 16:9  “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him….”

Luke 6:37-42 – “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned…” Luke 6:37

“…forgive, and you will be forgiven” Luke 6:37

“Pray like this: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory forever. Amen’” Matthew 6:9-13

Did you notice how Jesus expected us to ask the Father to “forgive us our debts?” That right – in the same was “we forgive our debtors.” But just in case you missed the connection, Jesus completes His teaching on how to pray with these words: “IF you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, BUT IF you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

“… love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35

“give (to your enemy) it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

• • “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 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.” Luke 6:41-45

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