Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Picking Fruit

Wow!! What an early spring here in Maine. Yes its true we have had a couple of early morning snow storms about a week and 1/2 ago, but we had grass to cut and tulips come and go. Our crab trees are in full bloom. They are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. I planted 2 apple trees also out back about 5 years ago. They haven't born any edible fruit so far. Maybe this is the year they will be mature enough to bear good fruit.

Which is my tie in to the next verses we will look at.


Luke 6:43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. 45 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in their heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.


So we are continuing on with snatches of passages from Jesus preaching to the crowds. These are the crowds that are trying to understand where they fit into a relationship with God. I know that I am going to sound like a broken record or have some sort of vendetta against the pharisees, but much of what Jesus criticized them for seems to fit into these illustrations that Jesus is using here. 
The question here is how do we recognize a good tree.  By its placement in the yard, by how tall it is, by the flower in the spring or maybe the number of branches.  This might be good for ornamental trees, but if the purpose is to have a tree to supply your families needs then you want a tree that bears good fruit.  The bearing of good fruit is the indication of a good tree, a healthy tree.  If for some reason you mistakenly plant thorn bushes and briers don't expect figs and grapes.

People are just like that.  Good people will bring forth good fruit.  What is the good fruit, the good things that they do.  They do these good things because of the goodness stored in their heart.   Just as evil people bring forth the evil in their hearts.  Now specially in this case Jesus is referring to what they say.  The Pharisees were concerned with ceremonial cleansing.  They were worried about what went into the mouth.  Jesus is concerned with what comes out.  

So what we say can be a blessing (good fruit) or bring hurt and discouragement (bad fruit).  Each question and challenge from the Pharisees was meant to destroy the work of Jesus and discourage the crowds from following him.  

Please think on the words you say or even the ones you leave on Facebook.  Are they meant for encouragement (good fruit) or discouragement (evil fruit).  May you seek God's strength is expressing your self with compassion from the heart, as you search for the Savior.