Day 164
Jesus concludes His thoughts regarding our producing fruit with the following: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20) We are known by what our actions produce. This is either a cause of great joy or sorry. Your actions will produce fruit; either good or corrupt. Too often we want to look at circumstances or "bad luck" when we don't see positive fruit coming from our lives. Instead of looking at others we need to look in the mirror. Fruit is a product of the fruit tree; our fruit is a product of us.
Matthew Poole's Commentary explains this verse as follows: "for it is with men as it is with the trees, good trees bring forth good fruit, corrupt trees bring forth evil fruit. If men have the root of the matter; the seed of God abiding in them, they will in every relation bring forth the fruits of truth and holiness: if they have not, they will bring forth error and wickedness. From whence we may learn, that our Lord expecteth from his people such a knowledge of the Scriptures, as that they may be able to discern truth from falsehood; and such a diligence, as to search the Scriptures, whether those things which their teachers deliver to them be according to them or not, Ac 17:11; not taking divine truths upon trust, nor believing any thing because dictated by teachers, using their teachers not as dictators, but only as helpers of their faith." (Emphasis supplied)
God expects us to discern fruit in both our lives and in the lives of those we allow to teach us Bible truths. Today, look at the fruit of your own life and then look at the fruit of those who are influencing you in your Christian walk. For a list of fruits, see Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Now know this; you are most likely producing some fruit. The question is what type? Take a long look in the mirror today and examine your fruit. Ask God to help you to produce good Godly fruit. He will answer that prayer as He desires you to produce Kingdom fruit for His glory.
Matthew Poole's Commentary explains this verse as follows: "for it is with men as it is with the trees, good trees bring forth good fruit, corrupt trees bring forth evil fruit. If men have the root of the matter; the seed of God abiding in them, they will in every relation bring forth the fruits of truth and holiness: if they have not, they will bring forth error and wickedness. From whence we may learn, that our Lord expecteth from his people such a knowledge of the Scriptures, as that they may be able to discern truth from falsehood; and such a diligence, as to search the Scriptures, whether those things which their teachers deliver to them be according to them or not, Ac 17:11; not taking divine truths upon trust, nor believing any thing because dictated by teachers, using their teachers not as dictators, but only as helpers of their faith." (Emphasis supplied)
God expects us to discern fruit in both our lives and in the lives of those we allow to teach us Bible truths. Today, look at the fruit of your own life and then look at the fruit of those who are influencing you in your Christian walk. For a list of fruits, see Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Now know this; you are most likely producing some fruit. The question is what type? Take a long look in the mirror today and examine your fruit. Ask God to help you to produce good Godly fruit. He will answer that prayer as He desires you to produce Kingdom fruit for His glory.
