OF WOLVES AND BAD FRUIT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Matthew 7:15-20

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Luke 6:43-45

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever dealt with someone who appeared as if they were nice and had good intentions only to find out later that it was all a ruse?

I know I have. In fact, this happens every day around our country and world. It even takes place within families where you would think people could be trusted most.

The aforementioned deception can and does come in many forms, even in the form of believers trying to influence other believers or non-believers. It’s this form of dishonesty that’s at the center of today’s devotion and the words of Jesus as drawn from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”  Matthew 7:15-20

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”  Luke 6:43-45

In Jesus’ day, there were plenty of people spreading religious doctrines, many of which were false and leading people away from the very truth Jesus was trying to teach. Note that these people appeared to be like the people they were misleading on the outside, sheep speaking to sheep (sheep was a common way that Jesus referred to His followers).

But these sheep (the false prophets) were disguised, really wolves in sheep’s clothing which meant the true sheep were in great danger for wolves were one of their greatest threats, predators who wanted to take away their very lives. Unless the sheep could see the wolves for who they really were then they were in great danger and peril.

So how would the sheep be able to recognize a wolf from a fellow member of the flock?

Jesus tells them this:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

In other words, the people would need to know that they were being dealt good or bad fruit before they could know whether they were dealing with a wolf or not.

So how could they do that? How could they discern whether or not they were being given good or bad fruit? How could we know today?

The answer lies in our knowledge and relationship with the Lord. For when we know Him, constantly seeking the direction of His Spirit and intently reading His word every day, we will know the truth the Lord provides. We will know what righteousness looks like, the good fruits only born by someone who is in the Lord.

Our close relationship with the Lord and knowledge of His word will expose the lies and evil within the hearts of the wolves in sheep’s clothing and it will allow us to reject the bad fruit they offer. Further, that same relationship keeps us safe and protected, sheep in the care of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-16).

Know the Lord. Know His word. Receive His Spirit.

All of the above will always lead you past the wolves and away from bad fruit.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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