M A T T H E W 7 : 17 – 20
“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.”
In the bible, we see many passages where Christ underlined the importance of bearing fruits. He explains that if that tree doesn’t then it will be cut down and burned. But, it is not only important that we bear fruit and bring it to Christ, but that we bear good fruit. If we look at Cain and Abel we see that God favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s. Cain worked the fields and so he brought some of what he produced, but Abel brought the fat of his firstborn livestock. Though Cain thought nothing of it, Abel gave thorough consideration into his offering and wanted to please God with the first, and best of what he had; and by doing so he found favor. So it happens in our life that we can do many things, but Christ says to do all things as if for Him. Yet we can get tired and complain and grumble, or we see no benefit to work for the kingdom of God. God does not look at our toil for him as just a quantity; He looks at the heart and seeks the quality of what we do and how we do it. It’s not just for a reward we reap in heaven, but it’s the offering that we will be bringing to Him. If we love our Father, we will be diligently working for His kingdom with great stride and effort and He will know us by our fruits.
Y O U T H M E M B E R
