Friday, September 27, 2024
A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Luke 6:43-45
Good Tree/Bad Tree
In the past year we have learned a lot about what it means to live as a follower of Christ. Now we are in a series about what will come from living our lives in a real, transformative relationship with Jesus. If we are walking with Him and have been radically changed by Him, it will show in our lives. We will have fruit – the fruit of the Spirit.
In the passage above, Jesus explains that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and a bad tree does not produce good fruit. The same is true for people. An evil person will only have evil stored up in their heart and they will produce evil. Their words and actions come from the evil they have stored in their hearts. They cannot pretend to be good or bear good fruit. …for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
The same is true for us as believers and followers of Christ. If we are walking with Him, learning to live and love like Him, and being transformed by Him every day, we will bear fruit. We are being transformed daily and we never arrive until we arrive – in heaven with Him. But the time we are here on earth, being transformed, we will also bear fruit. Whenever we are surrendered and open to Him, He will use us.
Fake Fruit
When I was a child (the scary statement that dates us) my mother and grandmother had fake fruit. Sometimes it was plastic and sometimes I guess it was wax. Either way, its not the real deal and it is obvious. Sometimes it is obvious when you look at it, when you touch it, but especially if you ever put it in your mouth.
As a Christian, there is no fake fruit. God knows our heart, and you may think you are fooling the world, trying to look like you have fruit, but fruit (or no fruit) is the inevitable result of who we are. It may take time for the harvest to come, but the good or bad fruit is evident, revealing what sort of tree we are. We will be known for our fruit - it will be evident in our words and actions, but also in other ways. Who are you influencing? Who are you pouring into? Who are you praying for? Who are you praying with? Are you being discipled so you can make disciples? What are you filling your heart with? Remember that whatever you fill your heart with will overflow and also determine the fruit you bear. Be careful and intentional about what you let in. Walking in the Spriit – stepping where He steps, surrendered and being transformed (filling your heart with Him!) will bear the fruit of a Christ follower.
