Daily Bread 3-15-18
The Sermon on the mount(cont'd)
Matthew 7:16-20
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
ref. - Lk 6:43 - For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bringeth forth good fruit.
Speaking of wolves in sheep's clothing and false prophets, we read today that by their fruits we shall know them. We all came from the place of a wild olive branch. We produced wild, unprofitable, and bitter fruit that was not useful for our Lord in his kingdom. In order to produce good fruit we had to be cut off from the tree that we were attached to and grafted into a tree that would give us the nutrients to produce a better useful fruit. The tree is Jesus Christ and we are the branches. We have been given a great opportunity to produce good fruit as long as we do not deny the nutrients that are given to us of the branch. This is how we identify whether those around us are wolves in sheep's clothing or if they are truly shepherds sent by the Lord for our benefit. We will ask questions again; Do they preach what they see and hear or do they preach what is given them of the Holy Ghost? Does their information agree with the teachings of Christ or is it in a form of agreement but still draws us to confusion in something else? We can compare the ways of our Spiritual guides with that of the Apostle Paul. Do they admit that all that they knew before they met Christ was rubbish? Also, that all the things that the world had to be obedient to became nothing unless it was included with what Christ brought us this gospel? Or do they cling to traditions and rituals that are not profitable for us? If we are not receiving the nutrient from the tree that is Jesus Christ then we will not produce useful fruit either. If the one that is trying to teach us is not drawing from the tree(Jesus Christ) then he will feed us what he has eaten before and will contaminate us with the ill nutrients to produce wild fruit. We must be feeding from the tree of life everlasting in order to be able to travel down that strait and narrow path. In order to do this we must be careful of who and what we listen to no matter how "holy" they appear and how convincing they are. If it is not from the Holy Bible and it did not come from Christ or was not confirmed by Christ, we mustn't allow ourselves to be confused by it or them. The wolves are out there and they are flourishing because good men and women are following them and being devoured by them. We must remain humble and stay in a place that can not only protect us from the wolves, but also keep us from turning into the wolves. We must stay in Jesus Christ and we must only follow those who lead in Jesus Christ. Information not coming from those on the outside looking in but Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever!! Have a great day!!!