“Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.” Luke 6:44
Jesus started talking about trees. He was pointing out that good trees bring about a good fruit that bad trees cannot do. Then He talks about how each tree is recognized by its fruit.
Some people can look at the leaves on a tree and tell you what kind of tree it is. Most would be like myself, in that I would most likely fail in recognizing the tree by its leaves.
However, when the tree produces a fruit, such as the apple or orange, there is no doubt left in the mind as to what type of tree it is. Every person knows that an apple tree will never produce an orange, nor the opposite.
What does this have to do with people?
As a whole, on the surface, all people look the same: two hands, two feet, eyes, nose, and mouth. Many will even look nice and sharp like a good person–they are well dressed and groomed. These things do not make a person good or bad.
People who are truly good at heart are the ones who are saying and doing the good things of God. What is your life producing?
Looking at the life of Jesus, He produced men and women who served God with all of their life. He broke the chains of sin in the lives of people. He did not just go around feeding and healing people. He made real changes.
In life today, many people may be doing some good with feeding the poor, but are they producing eternal life changes? Are people being brought to God?
The fruits of God are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness and others. These are the fruits that produce eternal changes. These are the fruits that show you are of God.
When people look at you, what do they see? Do they see Jesus? Do they see the fruit that Jesus would produce?
Or do they see a person who carries a Bible, but lives for the world? Are you producing thorns in the lives of others?
May people recognize you as a child and servant of God.
I pray today that God will fill you with His Holy Spirit; that God will produce good fruit in your life; that the world will see Jesus in you; and that you will produce the fruit of God daily.
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