This week's devotion is entitled:
This devotion comes from a message my pastor spoke on last Wednesday night. It asks the question: "do people know what kind of tree you are by your fruit?" Let's look at this verse:
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
What was Jesus saying here? Is He denying His own family? No, He is trying to teach us a lesson. Just because we are in His family, does not mean we are in His family. You can't just be a Christian for "fire insurance," you have to do God's will in everything you do. Also think about this:
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
What kind of fruit are you bearing? Do other people know you by your fruit? Could someone tell that you are a Christian by your actions? Could you witness without ever saying a word? Are you truly doing God's will?
This week is a good time to examine ourselves, and examine our fruits, to see if we are truly lining up with God's Word.
~Matthew 12:46-50
~Matthew 7:16-21