“FRUIT!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 634

June 6, 2023///

As I was at a Dentist appointment that was taking longer than I expected this morning, I was looking out the window from the dental chair at a beautiful tree right outside, and I began thinking of good trees, bad trees, good fruit, and bad fruit.

The Bible talks about the two kinds of trees.

Luke 6:43 (KJV)
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

We all understand that a tree that has been let rot and gets in really bad shape will bring forth bad fruit if it brings forth fruit at all.

But let’s look at the good tree. It gets fruit on its branches or vines, etc. Then the fruit ripens and begins to form the good inside which we love.

What happens to that fruit if worms or other insects begin to eat on it. It becomes no good. The infected fruit has to be thrown away.

In our spiritual Walk we may have begun to form the good fruit of the spirit that the Bible tells us we should be producing!

Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

But may we look at what happens when we let the worms or insects of fear, doubt, unforgiveness, hateful words, bad attitudes, no gratitude, jealousy, pride, busyness, lies from the enemy, lack of dedication to the word, make the fruit repulsive.

Our fruit becomes rotten and does not feed a world hungry for the real Jesus who will change them inside out!

What are the actions, attitudes, rebellions, anger, fear or a million other things, that are destroying the truth of the word and our testimony.

People are watching us! We may dress up or dress down. We may have money or be struggling each month. We may know all the Christian language.

But are we judgmental, do we lash out when we are angry or just aggravate? Do we feel we are better than another? Do we hold unforgiveness for a true wrong that we will not release to the Lord Jesus?

What do we believe about who we are, and is fear causing us to hide our light?

All of this will make our fruit useless. I like to say, “God does not like ugly”!

Even when we try to cover it up, bad attitudes and ugly just show anyway!

Galatians five goes on the tell us truth!

Galatians 5:24-26 (KJV)
²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

But it is your choice to walk, letting the spirit within you, that gives you new life, begin to clean out those attributes and attitudes and actions that are affecting your fruit. We are to put off the old and put on the new.

The Holy Spirit is our helper! As we yield more of our life to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the new will destroy the old and good nourishing fruit will comes forth.

  On our own we cannot banish the old and replace it with Love, Joy, Peace and all the other good fruit. But just releasing all things to the Lord Jesus Christ, brings freedom and the good fruit.

May we all examine the real us, the one deep inside the flows to the outside, and let go of the worms, insects and all things that ruin our good fruit.

I encourage you to pray with me the words David wrote so long ago!

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)
²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  

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Father, I come in Jesus’ name.  Search me, cleanse me, destroy every evil thought, attitude, or action in my life. Help me bear good fruit. Help me to show others a better way. May my life honor you and lift you up and bring Glory to your name. I desire that also for all who read this. Help us as your church to be a force of good!

Love, Me-Maw