Matthew 7:17-23
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Intellectually I want to do what is right. But my behavior hasn't always matched what I believe. In those cases I was producing "bad fruit". Jesus gives a stern warning about bad fruit: "every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased bad tree bears bad fruit.... Thus you will recognize them by their fruits" (verses 17-20). Our "fruit" or behavior is a reflection of our inner heart; if we are producing evil fruit then it is a reflection of the evil that is in our hearts. We may claim to be a good, loving person, but our fruit will show the truth about us. Just claiming to be a Christian is not enough: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (verse 21). Jesus wants us to have a true relationship not just an intellectual belief. This is not meant to condemn us as being worthless, but to prod us to repent, develop new roots, and produce good fruit.
Lord, help me to produce good fruit.
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Intellectually I want to do what is right. But my behavior hasn't always matched what I believe. In those cases I was producing "bad fruit". Jesus gives a stern warning about bad fruit: "every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased bad tree bears bad fruit.... Thus you will recognize them by their fruits" (verses 17-20). Our "fruit" or behavior is a reflection of our inner heart; if we are producing evil fruit then it is a reflection of the evil that is in our hearts. We may claim to be a good, loving person, but our fruit will show the truth about us. Just claiming to be a Christian is not enough: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (verse 21). Jesus wants us to have a true relationship not just an intellectual belief. This is not meant to condemn us as being worthless, but to prod us to repent, develop new roots, and produce good fruit.
Lord, help me to produce good fruit.