SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:43-45
The main point here is that our words and actions reveal our hearts.
Obviously, all of us can be a mixed bag of fruit – good and bad.
But generally speaking, there is a pattern that reveals the heart.
Am I generally good fruit, with an occasional bad one?
Or generally bad fruit, with an occasional good one?
Paul lists the kind of ‘fruit’ that God is looking for in us: But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. (Galatians 5:22-23)
This is a picture of life in Eden, a picture of how Jesus lived, and a picture of my life as a Jesus-follower.
If, that is, that is where my heart is.
Jesus is saying that you can tell a person’s heart by whether they are aiming to live like this, whether they are increasingly showing this kind of behaviour.
Not perfectly, but increasingly, with the Spirit’s help, and our determination.
Is this my heart, my desire, to live like this?
“So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants you to do.” (Galatians 5:16)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, keep reminding me today of this kind of good fruit. With Your Spirit’s help, may it come more naturally to me!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
‘What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying’ comes to my mind as I read this morning’s passage. Our knowing = our loving = our doing. The circle of these three must never end.
Out of the heart comes the issues of life and what is found there, so goes man/I. Each day I mist clothe myself with the fruit of the Spirit and pray that the Spirit will lead and guide me on my pilgrim’s progress to the Holy Hill.
Prayer
Lord, help me in my actions this day and always that show I love You and mankind. Help me to do Your will and be Your Champion.
There’s a little flame inside us all
Some shine bright, some shine small
The rains will come and the waters rise
But don’t you ever lose your light
In this life you will know
Love and pain, joy and sorrow
So when it hurts, when times get hard
Don’t forget whose child you are
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine, gonna let it shine
May you live each day with no regret
Make the most of every chance you get
Let your eyes get wide when you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child’s heart
With the ones you love treasure the time
And for those who are gone keep their memories alive
Hold on to your dreams don’t ever let go
There’s a fire inside you burning with hope
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine, gonna let it shine
There will be days when you want to give up
When the clouds settle in
But after the rain comes the sun
Don’t you ever forget
One day there will be no more pain
And we will finally see Jesus’ face
So until then I’m gonna to try
To brave the dark and let my little light shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine, gonna let it shine