January 28, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke  -  A Tree and Its Fruit

Luke 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Following on the heels of verses 37 through 45 of chapter 6 we find judgement.

The Lord is talking about a judging a tree by its fruit. A tree is known by its fruit. You know what an apple tree is by the fruit is bears. You know what an orange tree is by the fruit is bears. You know what a grape vine is by fruit is bears.

Consequently, you know a person by the fruit they bear. If a person has nasty mouth you know that person is nasty. If a person has a hateful mouth you know that person is hateful. The list goes on and on. People eventually reveal themselves by their words and actions.

If a person claims to be a Christian and live as a drunk you know they are either ignorant or hypocrites or not saved in the first place. If a person claims to be Christian and is into lust (lust can cover so many issues like lust of money and power and control etc.) and pornography or other nefarious issues, you know they are not who or what they say they are. This issue of fruit bearing goes into so many different directions.

Let’s take it a step farther; of you say you are Christian, does your life match the testimony you claim?

Mathew 7, which another passage on judgment takes the fruit bearing issue a bit farther and personal.

Matthew 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

If a person says they are a Christian and walks with and as the Lord Jesus Christ walked, you can observe the fruit they bring.

John 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Really, it comes down to this; to bear Christian fruit, one must be a born again believer. To bear Christian fruit, one must love and follow the Lord and that through His wonderful word.

What kind of fruit are you bearing? God and others are watching and judging.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook