Trees and Fruit (Luke 6:43-44)

For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. (Luke 6:43 NASB)

Jesus transitioned here from the "eye" to the heart.   The word translated here as "good" is used to indicate healthy, wholesome, good all the way through. The word translated as "bad" is used of produce to indicate spoiled or rotten fruit. 

When we look at a beautiful, healthy tree, we expect to find healthy, beautiful fruit. We would be surprised to find disease-riddled fruit there. When we look at a diseased tree, however, we would be surprised if we found healthy, beautiful fruit. We expect a diseased tree to have diseased fruit. 

The phrase that comes to mind is "it is what it is".  The tree "is what it is" and can only produce fruit in accordance to what it is. The tree and the fruit are, of course, analogies for our lives as disciples of Christ. The quality of our faith walk determines the quality of the fruit we produce. 

Selah. Pause and consider that for a moment. 

When people see how we act and the choices we make, they can know what our relationship with Christ is like. In fact, our actions do more than tell people about our hearts. As believers, our fruit, our words, our actions should paint a picture of Christ for the world to see. 

How accurate is the picture of Christ that you are painting with your life?  

Selah. 

Pray today that we will lives of such purity that those around us will see Christ in us with clarity and accuracy.  Pray that our loved ones will be drawn to Him because of the fruit they see. 

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Link for last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/04/puppy-prayers.html