Matthew 11-12

October 14

Matthew 11-12

"“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33, NIV)

 

What kind of fruit are you producing? We can claim to be followers of Jesus, we can go to church on Sundays, we can be a part of a small group, we can look pretty good on the outside, but what kind of fruit are we producing. Before we have a relationship with Jesus, we all produce bad fruit. But Jesus said; “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good.” When we turn from our sin and turn to Jesus and enter into a relationship with Him, He transforms us from a bad tree to a good tree. If He transforms us, there should be evidence by the fruit we produce.

 

Jesus then said; "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34, NIV) Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who accused Jesus of healing by the power of the devil. But the challenge goes beyond the Pharisees to those who claim to be followers of Jesus. If we have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit lives in us, it will be evidenced by what comes out of our mouths. Who we are is revealed by the fruit we produce, what we do, and what comes out of our mouths, what we say. Our words and actions do not save us, but they reveal what is going on inside of us. They reveal who we really are and if we have transformed hearts.