May 29 2009
Are You Bearing Good or Bad Fruit?
In today’s society, there are a lot of people claiming to be Christians, but their actions (lives) don’t line up with the character of Jesus Christ. What kind of fruit are you bearing? In Matthew 7:20 - 21 it says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” I can remember a time in my life after I confessed Christ as my Savior and Lord, that I was not living the part of a Christian. I’m going to be real honest with you. When I first confessed Christ as my Savior, I did not know what it really meant to be a Christian. Later in my life, God opened my eyes to what being a Christian really means. Does that mean I’m going to always do things right? No, but if I repent (meaning to turn away from something and not do it again) God will forgive me.
A Christian is someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and follows after Christ by walking in obedience to the word of God. How does one walk in obedience to the word of God? This can only happen by reading the word of God and applying it to your life daily. You see if you do not know what the word of God says, how can you walk in obedience to the word of God? There are a lot of people who believe that if you are a good person, you are going to heaven. Well unfortunately, that is not how it works. Matthew 19:16&17 states, “Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”"So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is impossible for you to bear good fruit. Because it is through Him that you are able to bear good fruit. Every Christian should be bearing good fruit, not bad if you belong to God. “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree can not bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18).” Now I know you may be thinking to yourself what is good fruit, right? Well, I’m glad you asked. Galatians 5:22&23 (read verses 24-26 as well) tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” In order for you to grasp that verse, you need to read Gal. 5:16-21. In those verses it will clearly give you examples of bearing bad fruit. I have to warn you to prepare yourself, because those verses may reveal your true character. Now, after you finish reading those verses, be honest with yourself. What kind of fruit are you bearing?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus asking you to cleanse me from those things that do not bring your name glory and honor. Lord you said, “A good tree can not bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” So Lord, I ask you to remove the bad fruit from me and replace them with the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen
To God Be the Glory!
