Thursday / Know Them by Their Fruit
Read Matthew 7: 15-20 (NLT)
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Think
While driving to work one Summer day, a bird flashed across the road in front of me. Since I’ve been a “birder” from childhood, I immediately recognized it. It was a Blue Jay, easily identified by the shape of its head, size, flight pattern, and of course, its bright blue color. All these things are Field Marks, and anyone who watches birds learns early on to spot them.
As a believer, God says there should be Field Marks that identify me, too. But often, I find myself doing things which are contrary to what I claim about myself. I may make all the right “show” of faith–attending church service regularly, saying all the right words—but, sometimes my deeds just don’t line up with those words. Others may be hurt by my actions; dissension and disagreement follow me. My fruit is bad.
Bad fruit is a symptom of disease–the sickness of my heart turned away from God. When my heart is not right, I can’t produce good fruit. I may be trying to “be a good person”, but that just doesn’t work. I might put on an outward show of good works, but without a clean, forgiven heart the true good fruit just won’t grow. My inner brokenness will always show through my outward appearance.
The fruit of the Spirit marks me as different. The way I live–whether I am truly following God or just having the outward appearance of obedience–matters to God and to the world. If I really love God, I can’t go on living a life that looks like the rest of the world. The Spirit living in me changes me, in deep fundamental ways, and the fruit of the Spirit are the Field Marks by which I can be truly identified.
Pray
Holy, gracious and amazing God, you made me in your own image to produce good fruit in this world. I know I’m not always the person you ask me to be. I don’t follow you close enough, and the fruit I produce is bad. Help me, Lord, to stay close to you. Guide me in all I do so that the world can recognize me as your child by the good fruit of my life. Amen.
Do
Have you ever gone bird watching? It’s time to try it. The National Parks Service has some great recommendations for beginners: Start by just looking around your neighborhood and get to know your “regulars”. Some birds in your neighborhood are common, year-round residents. Find a good spot. You might go for a drive through a wildlife area, walk on a trail, or sit in one spot and wait for the birds to come to you. Remember that certain things will affect the birds you see–time of day, time of year, weather, and temperature, to name a few. Try to be still and blend in, and above all be patient. Use a field guide or online bird identification key to help you tell the birds apart by their Field Marks. For more helpful information, go to https://www.nps.gov/articles/birding-for-beginners.htm
The View from Mt. Hope 