Roots and fruits
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed. ~ Isaiah 1:17a (NLT)
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father... then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ~ Ephesians 3:14, 17 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
God expects us to learn how to treat the disadvantaged well. As Christ is welcomed into our lives he will develop us so we can do that.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am thankful for your ongoing investment in my life. I know what you want me to become and do. I know that you care about the poor and hurting. I confess that I don't care so much for broken people. They make me uncomfortable. So I ask that you would come make yourself at home in my life in order that as my roots sink into your love the fruit of my life would be extreme love and care for the broken. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
