Fruit

“You’ll never find choice fruit hanging on a bad, unhealthy tree. And rotten fruit doesn’t hang on a good, healthy tree. Every tree will be revealed by the quality of fruit that it produces. Figs or grapes will never be picked off thorn trees. People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. But out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words." Luke 6:43-45



Today I was thinking about fruit!   Every fruit looks unique and tastes quite different.   Lemons are lovely and tart, while strawberries are sweet.
I don't have to be present when seeds are planted to know what kind of seeds they were; I just need to look at the fruit.  If there is an apple, I can guarantee that you planted an apple seed.

In the same way we can look at others and see what fruit there is in their lives and decide whether we want to let that influence us.  The word says (1 Corinthians 15:33)"So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character.".  How do you stop this happening?  Look for the fruit in peoples lives and be aware of the ones whose fruit is strife, fear, anger, selfishness...

Really what we want to do is look for those who show good fruit in their lives and hang around them and them influence us.

The other important aspect of this is the very last sentence in my scripture for this week: ...and will be heard in your words."  If we take time to listen to what comes out of our own mouths, we will quickly see what kind of seeds we have been planting.

Are your words cutting, rude or angry?  Are your words loving, kind, gentle?  Are your words full of faith and confidence in God?  Are your words exalting or tearing down?

As you listen to your words, you can see what you've been planting.  You can't consistently speak differently to what's in your heart, as God designed us so that we speak from what we have stored (planted) in your hearts.  If you don't like the seeds you have planted, it's not too late to uproot the seeds and replant with the truth from God's word; meditate on the things you want to be fruitful (evident) in your life, and others will be able to see from your actions and your words exactly what you have planted in your heart; it will draw people to you, so that you in turn point them to Christ and the work he has done in your life!