Scripture Reading: Luke 6:1-49, Hosea 6:6, James 2:1-5
I live in the land of the mandatory “sir” and “ma’am.” In casual and formal settings alike, many adults in the American South require all children to append these honorifics to everything they say to anyone older than themselves.
As a teacher, I have to rebuke and correct kids regularly, and the culturally mandated expectation, no matter the infraction, is that the student will respond with an immediate, unflinching “yes, sir” to whatever I say.
But the magic words lose their power when a kid makes the same mistake over and over. Even if the circumstances are not extreme, more than words are required to get back on track. I’d rather they skip the sweet talk and just do what they’re supposed to do. Don’t just call me “sir” and assume that everything’s cool; back your words up with action.
I think Jesus is after the same thing. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46). Religious people have a knack for performing passable acts of lip service but miss the mark in their behavior. Being hyper-focused on right speech and right thought often leads to action far afield from God’s heart.
God sees right through the veneer of spoken conformity and expressly desires more than verbal virtue signaling. Hosea 6:6 tells us that God doesn’t want us going through the motions of religious duties for their own sake; He wants us to know Him and love Him faithfully.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m the kind of guy who calls out “Lord, Lord” to Jesus with the same breath in my lungs that I use to run in the opposite direction of the life He has called me to. I certainly hope not. But I know the impulse is strong within me to say the right words but carry on doing what I please.
Guilty as I am of behaving this way, I know God’s mercy for me is greater. His mercy—so complete, so precious—beckons me to a life in the constant light of His presence. Instead of reciting a Wikipedia definition of sunshine, I get to bask directly in the warmth of Jesus. And that’s when things start to take shape and grow.
Our lives will speak for themselves as our roots dig into the soil of God’s love and He produces the fruit of His own Spirit in our hearts. Little by little, we won’t need to speak in pithy yet empty Christian jargon; we will become active agents of His love, joy, and peace. We won’t need to pretend to be well-versed cultural Christians because we will illuminate the world with His kindness and goodness. As Christ lives through us, we will bring peace to broken and dark places. As His Holy Spirit operates in us, calling Him “Lord, Lord” will be more than hollow speech; it will be the proclamation of God’s kingdom through our very lives.
— Written by Alex Florez
Leave a Reply
66 thoughts on "The Sermon on the Plain"
❤️
As I read Luke 6:19 “And the crowd sought to touch him, for the power came out from him and healed them all.” I meditate on how amazing it must have been to have access to seek to touch Jesus for healing
I am catching up, and oh my my, this is so good. Thank you ALEX. “We won’t need to pretend to be well-versed cultural Christians because we will illuminate the world with His kindness”. I am not good at pretending and I really like this truth. May I decrease, so He who lives in me can increase.
Amen!
Sometimes I have been walking the talk but not actually doing it and I get worried that I need to try harder in order to produce the fruits of the Spirit that are evident in me but this is something I can work on on my walk with Jesus
I love the last paragraph of Alex’s devotion. Basically, we won’t have to “act” like Christians when Christ is living in us and we are communing daily with Him. The real us will show God living in us.
Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Wow wow wow
Luke 6:27–28 and 36 really stood out to me today. What touched me most was the reminder that God shows us mercy even when we don’t deserve it. His mercy isn’t something we earn, but something He freely gives. And because He has shown us such incredible mercy, we’re called to extend that same love and compassion to others, even when it’s difficult. I think that’s a beautiful reminder of God’s heart for us! ❤️
The scriptures and devotional are so good today!
~
Do I call our “Lord, Lord” as I’m running in the other direction? Guilty as charged.
I want my house to have the solid foundation. Not to be sinking in sand. It is up to me to ask God to help me. To have the Holy Spirit convict me when I’m behaving in the opposite way of God. To stay in His Word. To have a good prayer life. To stop and think before I react. To remember to who’s daughter I am and what I want to be an example of.
6:12-16 After spending all night in Prayer to God, When daylight came, he summoned his disciples and chose twelve of them whom he also named apostles, and Judas Iscariot,( Jesus knew he would betray him)was one of them and Jesus Loved him too. 6:35 But love your enemies, do what is good and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Lord God, Please strengthen us where we are weak, Holy Spirit Please Help Us to Love Our Enemies, In Jesus Name Amen
Love this!!
❤️
My first thought when I read the Bible verses was:
God wants the heart,
not the show!
.
ALEX FLOREZ, your BRILLIANTLY CRAFTED devo, as always, left me wanting more of your ‘preaching!
.
Thankful to be safely home and now facing laundry and falling back into daily routine!
.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
.
SONG SHARE (New fromJeremyCamp):
Jeremy Camp – Shaky Ground (Official Audio)
Chorus:
Even when I fall on shaky ground my heart will sing “It is well with my soul”…
❤️
❤️
Welcome to a new week & a new chance to begin again, Shes. After reading the Monday scripture & daily devotional -it is now up to us to get up & get on with it! Whatever the day holds. Drop the formalities. Leave the self doubts behind. Show not tell. Try our darn best to be about His business in the world! Women in the Word of God every day.
Amen!
A-MEN! Yes…another day..
or an OPPORTUNITY!!
Amen!
I kept having walking the talk! I have worried that I need to try harder to have the fruits of the Spirit evident in me but this is not something i can work harder to get. Alex’s words about allowing our roots to grow deep into the soil of God’s love, spending time in His presence and in His word really hit home. This made me think of Matt 11:28-30 and Heb 4.16. Keeping Jesus the center of it all. We can’t do it but He can!
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.4.16.NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.11.28-30.NIV
Praying for all!
I will comment more of the devo later. GREAT read!
My son landed on Amsterdam and making their way to Spain. Continue to pray for safe travels. It’s his first time on a plane. It’s a team going to a conference where he gets to make coffee. I’m so proud of him and he gets to do something he enjoys.
What?! When did that come about! Amsterdam!!? How exciting for him! Prayers!
Love this!
❤️
Wow..there is SO much in these scriptures today, but Alex Flores did a good job at summing up the most important idea- following after Jesus to know him and from just that we will be conformed naturally. You become the things you consume. What matters to you you make time for. Have you ever noticed that you and your besties have the same ideas, dress alike, like the same places, and can talk for hours. You align and reflect each other. You love to spend time together.
That’s how it should be with Jesus. Talking with him in prayer, and reading his word, and following his actions. An eagerness to be with him. His way begins to make sense to us.
We are so profoundly thankful that he loved us while we were still sinners and called him to us. Then not only did he accept us, want us, but he redeems us and restores us! It is a love that is beyond our conception. Because we don’t give love like that- but we start to, we learn to. Because of his mercy for us we give mercy and forgiveness, and pray for those that even mistreat us.
For those that don’t know the Lord, they don’t have the Spirit and that is worth remembering. Now those in Christ are to be judged by their fruit. We need to have discernment and sharpen each other in love. We cannot, as Christ followers be in practicing sin. We should be convicted, otherwise our flesh is our center. Excuses. I am thankful for Sisters and mentors in Christ that helped my walk in this way.
My preacher talked on this yesterday as he spoke of the Shephard’s rod and staff. That we need His correction for when we are straying or getting into something harmful that will hurt us. Or that will cause harm to the flock. We always want to look at others but don’t often like to examine our own walk. That’s why it’s important, too, to be in a small group, or have mentors and older women of wisdom to shepherd us.
We always want to be growing closer to Jesus, and a walk that reveals this. Life is not static. It is a current, and you are either drifting away or actively pursuing the Lord! It takes work to swim toward the Lord. Disciplines, time, effort. But that circles back to the start of what I was thinking–what matters to us is what we consume.
I’ve developed a habit of reciting Psalm 23 to myself when I feel a temptation toward a certain sin. I love that your pastor mentioned the Shepherd’s rod and staff. Whenever I recite that part, I have a vision in my head of me, the little wandering sheep, edging too close to going over the cliff, and the Shepherd reaching out with his staff to hook it around my neck and haul me back to where I ought to be!
(heart)
Hi Shes,
Would you join me in prayer for my half brother? His name is Richard, but because he’s named after my dad, I call him Ricky. He’s about ten years older than me, from my father’s previous marriage. I usually host a prayer call every Monday but I canceled it tonight because I’m having dinner with my brother since he’s visiting the area. We met as a family the other day, but today it is just us. I want to use this opportunity to ask him about his ideas about the faith.. specifically Jesus. Yesterday, his first grandson was baptized into the Catholic faith… l am hoping to use this as a segway into the conversation. Ricky does not practice Catholicism, but his daughter’s partner’s family is Catholic, hence the baptism…
Anyways, I mainly am hoping to really present God’s love and salvation in any way I can… led by the Holy Spirit, of course. I’m not much of an evangelist, but I truly love my brother and want him to know Jesus is the way, truth, and life. Thanks!!
Well, I guess I can be an evangelist, I don’t want to speak that over myself. I just don’t want him to feel overwhelmed or judged by my sharing the gospel — so please pray! Thanks!
You got it. Evangelizing to family is so hard!
Praying that many seeds can be planted!
Praying that the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to present God’s love and salvation!
I think and wish all Christians should have your heart motivation!
I know what you mean. I think it’s harder when we know we want to talk about it at a specific time because then of course it has to be enacted rather than just coming up naturally. But you’re right..you got a perfect segway in! Praying the right words will come to you through the Spirit.
I remember some recent years ago that I tried to talk to my atheist nephew about the Bible and how it is the Living Word and I was so frustrated by the end I was in tears. I wanted to be able to have the right answers to his reproofs, but he is a masterful debater. And God was just like..Rhonda, Rhonda..you can’t convert someone, it is me…you just plant seeds. And maybe I did. (well, I certainly did b/c God’s words never return void). They got in there! He is the one currently in prison, and I write to him all the time, and still preach the word to him! lol. I was hoping going to prison might be the thing to have him cry out to God, not yet!
Yes, that is exactly what I mean. I think this is good to keep in mind- only the Lord knows hearts and knows the words we need. I pray you continue blessing your nephew and entrusting him to the Lord … and that he has a full revelation of Jesus/salvation!!
Thank you everyone for praying!!! ❤️
Praying, Michelle❤️
“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
I love this. I love how we can see the nature of His personality coming out in the way He responds. In the passage right before this, the Pharisees said to Him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, but Yours eat and drink.” And then here, the Pharisees had a problem with Jesus’s disciples plucking the grain to eat as they were in the grain field. Both times back-to-back focusing on what the disciples were doing, and both times back-to-back, Jesus defended them. It’s like the Pharisees wanted to be in control, but Jesus, in a way, was like, “Leave them to Me. I’ve got them.”
They weren’t bound by the rules the Pharisees wanted them tied to. They were bound to Jesus, and it looked different. In the same way, the ones bound to the rules and the ones bound to Jesus look different – and the ones bound to the rules don’t know what to do with these that are bound to Jesus. They try to make them conform – to fit in their perfect circles, but to follow Jesus is like being on the wheel of His holy will.
Where your prayer is,
Make my edges match Your edges.
Make my shape match Your shape.
May my only conforming be
by Your hand upon me
as you mold me on the wheel
of Your holy will.
I yield,
content to never fit anywhere
as long as I fit in You.”
.
.
“I take O cross thy shadow for my abiding place. I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face. Content to let the world go by, to know no other gain or loss, my sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.”
Elizabeth Clephane, 1868.
I’ve never heard that prayer—that’s good!
It is from the hymn Beneath the Cross of Jesus. ❤️
❤️
The Lord has been “speaking” to me about this so much lately. There is a lot of drama at work between some people (thankfully I’m not in it!) but both sides have been coming to me. I usually avoid going into our office bc I don’t want to be drawn into the gossip and negativity. But God has been prompting me to be a “peace maker”.. who? me? At first I thought I was being called to “broker a peace deal” which wasn’t feeling right. In reflecting, I think in this situation my role is to be an “active agent of love, joy and peace” and to pray for those who are causing the drama.
Prayers for you to be just that, an “active agent of love, joy and peace”!
I think you’re hearing God’s direction for you in this situation. Praying you continue to hear and follow by showing His love.
(P.S. Office politics and drama are so hard!)
GM ladies. Here is our list of prodigals. Add any names in the comments.
Isaiah 43:19 Look, I am about to do something new;
even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert
Alice V – Brian, Rachel
Kim Mullins – Tyler
Tami – Chela, Quentin
Sharon – Nicholas, Jonathan
Rebecca W – Brett, Jake, Joey, Lindsay, Kelly, Abby, Katelyn, Katie
Emma Rageth – Olivia, Ali, Greg, Rico, Leah, Mikey, Logan, Ryan, Stephanie, Dillon, Danae, Julie, Sean
Indiana Elaine – Kent, Shelley
Mari V – Rick, Marta, Toby
Tricia C – David, Allison, Christopher, Lina, Travis, Nicole
Mia Faith – Parker, Isaiah, Alexandra, Griffin, Annalee, Bill
Aleida – Victor
Maddie – Michelle, Julia
Rhonda – Michael, Sue, Katie, Jack, Ella
Charlotte Hill – Casey, John, Emma
Deb – Brandon, Angel
Linda J – Matthew
Mollie – Sam
MMD – Ethan, Hayden, Rachel
Carol H – Justin, Ezekiel, Elijah, Andrew
Kari – Rachel, Josh, James, Ayano
Mi Sherry – Kaitlyn, Aaron, Will
Cheryl Read – Renee, Jason, Kayden, Kylee
Wendy B – Amy, Colton, Kirk, Nick
Anne Klinkhammer – Molly
Sue Dalos – Chelsea, Kenny
Bessie – Ben
Annie Hewitt – Annie pls give me name/s:)
Sandy Lynn – Andy
Diane – Jon, Keith, Roger, Mike
Jane K – Leah
B – M, B
Susan B – Tammy, Amy
Carla – Cierra, Stephen
Lisa H – Cora
Kimberk – Megan, Randy
Adrienne – Raelynn, Tyler, Tracy, Micayla
Brandi – Levi, Sarah, Ellen, India
Robin Bailey – Rodney, Brian
Erin L – Emerson, Zoe
Janet – Ryan, Amanda, Matthew, Stephanie
Sheryl – Adam, LaShonda
Maria J – Benjamin, Mike, Mark, Patrick
Maria B – Chris, Tristan, Madeline, Cristal, Shanty, Nicole, Luis
Melani Fryer – Matthew, Dylan, Courtney, Lydia
Therese – Ryan, Brittany, Sydney
Traci Gendron – Kara, Andrew, Deanna
Jenny Carmichael – Katy
Mercy – boys in social care system
Kerry Rowley – Preston, Parker, Lindsey
Maria S – Joshua, Katie, Zoe
Melissa – Madison, Richard, Liam, Zac, Wesley
Felicia – Brittin, Tyler
Vicki – Ben, Sian
TC – Randi, Michael, Callie
Elizabeth – Trae, Xavier, Reya
Adie – Monica, Shawn, Stephanie
Susan B – Emma
Penni – Les, Jonah, Emily, Garret, Domi, Connor, Grace
Nat – Marissa, Melody
Martha Hix – Claire, Ralph, Tyler, Whitney, Trey
Phobie – Phobie, Greg, Steve, Jessie
Laura – Jordan, Taliah
April L – Molly, Becca
Karen Breaux – Brittany, Justin, Erin, Jordyn
Heather – Jack, Hudson
Cheryl Blow – Sara
Dianne – Ian
Leap – Liz, Teg, Taylor, Alison
Tara B – Clara Paige, Anna
Debra K – Stephen, Meagan, Daniel, Creg
Margaret W. —David, Matthew, Missy, Becca, Marianna
Melzie K- Jake, Cece & Elijah
Shar – K
Leala – Ryan, AJ, Sam
Jennifer – Matthew, Lauren and families
Cat-tee – A & A, K & T
K-Ann – G, T, S
Cathy McVey – Jeremiah, Brayden, Nolan, Ashlyn
Keri – Finley, Rudy, Scout, Nellie, Polly, Dottie, Goldie
Lena- Andrea, Lanie, Eiley, Everly, Schaefer
LaRae – Levi
Julie G – Matt, Katherine, Ray
AML – Jonathan, Jake, Emma, Becca
Kristin G – Brandon, Melissa
Allegra – Lydia, Nick, Micah, Jonah
Karen – Nathan, Bailey
Jazz – Blake, Zoie, Greg, Elizabeth
Gina – Carolyn, Steven
Cindy – Toby, Clarissa, Katie, Samantha
TS Woodruff – Danielle
Tammy H.- Alyssa
Danielle B – Joelle, Adam
Myra – Mitchell
Debby – Kristen
Jenn F – B&E, J&T
K – Alizabeth
Stephanie – Greg
Melanie C – Casey, Corey, Celeste, Kat
Mollie – Haley, Jeff, Rhonda
Margo – Lindsey, Drew, Lauren, Spencer
Meghan – Maddie, Brianne
Susan – Natassia
Donna – Kathy
Donna – Linda
Melanie – Jeff, Gary, Drake, Logan, Ryan
KMC – Rachelle, Karah, Joshua
Donna- Sherry
Kelly – Kyla, Brendan
Marie S – Joshua, Carleigh, Zoe, Terry, Edie, Brady
Jenn F – K&L, B&S, J&C
Eileen – Chris
Erin E – Ava
SB – T
Mollie – Stephanie
Joy – Grayson, Clay, Carley
Kathryn – Peter
Rita – Bryan, Sheila
Susan P – Brian, Alison
Truth Seeker – Roxanna Danese
Sheryl G – Eric, Shawn
Lynnie – Paul, Erika, Will, Emma
Tracy Mullins – Jake and friends
Truth Seeker – Nicole
Cheryl – Christopher
Prayed for our prodigals!
❤️
Is this list also for those who have never believed in Jesus as their Savior?
It only took me a week to get here (my bad). I had the impression that today’s Devo was written by anonymous. I’ve been a lot better about reading the scriptures than anything else. 
Great! Just keep reading!
We all get behind at times. Don’t give up!
Like Tami said, keep reading!!
“…We will become active agents of His love, joy, and peace.” This is my hearts desire. Not to just possess His love, joy and peace – but to actively be living these out, spreading them to others and letting them permeate my very being. In doing so I am then able to love my enemies, have the self-control of not judging others and to be merciful as He is merciful. God doesn’t want our loyalty in words, He expects us to put it into action.
– – –
Blessings to all my dear sisters in Christ. ❤️
Yes Sharon! I just wrote the same in my journal. I too want to be an “active agent of his love.” I need A LOT of help though!
Amen! Thinking back to our James study. James 1: 22 “be not just hearers of the word but doers”
Yes!
James was very convicting for me. Oh, Lord, please help me…
Such a convicting set of scriptures! May I put my words into action, Lord to boldly live out the calling You have placed on my life.
Amen
Amen❤️
Verse 40 brings me comfort (“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained WILL be like his teacher.”). Knowing I will one day be like my Teacher is a precious promise.
.
MERCY – praying your return to work goes well. Make those spreadsheets as big as you can!
.
GRAMSISUE – how is Steve doing? Your business?
I was thinking about GramsiSue just yesterday wondering how things are going with Steve’s health!
♥️ amen :)
What an excellent example of how God desires action from the heart, not just lip service. We just need to skip the ‘sweet talk’ and do what we’re supposed to do! In other words, beware of calling Him Lord and then not obeying His commands.
Only by the grace and mercy of our Savior, Jesus are we able! Give us your mercy and grace today, Father so we can be obedient ambassadors to those around us. Amen!
So many verses to underline in today’s text❤️
Amen! ❤️
Very convicting…
So many good lessons, and ones that remind me to DO and not just provide “lip service” (by way of “Yes, sir.” Thank you, Alex Florez.) I don’t want to SAY the right things, but not follow through with the appropriate actions. Lord, help me!
.
Thanks for the prayers the other day for me and Mom… she had (according to MY definition) a “good” day and got some things done that I felt she needed to, with no prompting from me. I need to “let go and let God,” much more than I do!
Praying Adrienne!
❤️
This truly spoke to me today, thank you Alex Florez. God bless you!
.
What can I add, but my favourite two words..
.
BUT GOD..
.
The whole writing had me, but these words were the seal, the words I needed to hear today..
.
Guilty as I am of behaving this way, I know God’s mercy for me is greater. His mercy—so complete, so precious—beckons me to a life in the constant light of His presence. Instead of reciting a Wikipedia definition of sunshine, I get to bask directly in the warmth of Jesus. And that’s when things start to take shape and grow..
.
They set free things in me I have held back, things I am not proud of, things I thought i was keeping from God.. but alas, yet again
.
BUT GOD..
My safe place, my haven, my life, my song..
.
Thank you God, Thank you..
.
AMEN.
.
Happy Monday lovelies!
Every blessing being prayed over you all this autumnal Monday..♥️❤️♥️