Scripture

20 Ah, you who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight! 22 Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant at mixing drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent

Jesus is working from Proverbs 9:7–8, which warns, “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.” This is Proverbs’ way of saying, “Don’t waste your time on pigs or dogs;

“For wisdom is better than rubies; And all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Proverbs 8:11

God doesn’t stand for a leader who is doing things his own way, disregarding the good of the people, betraying the God of the universe, and seeking selfish gain.

In Revelation 3:15–18, Jesus says, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

How do I know if I’m abiding?

You know if you’re abiding if there is fruit.

• you can fake abiding. It can look like you have a relationship with God. You can read the Bible, go to church. But if there is no fruit, are you really abiding?

““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,