On the Fruits That We Bear in Our Actions and Words

Verses:

Matthew 3:10: Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire

Luke 6:43-44: For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Psalm 1:1-3: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Thoughts:

Simply put, people create and reflect what is in their hearts, no matter what they might want to say and no matter how much they may want to cover it up. A tree will always bear fruit that is true to what it is: an apple tree bears apples, an orange tree oranges. 

This is why having an inviting, clean home or a nice dinner is such an encouragement. This is why working hard, wearing thoughtful outfits, and TRYING with your appearance are good things. But, you want these things to show a goodness within your heart, to accentuate your natural beauty. If you idolize those things, they quickly cover what goodness, by God’s grace, is in your heart. 

You can pull a Sherlock Holmes and deduct much about a person by their clothes and body language. But, you can only know exactly what is going on behind their eyes at that moment if they tell you. 

We, as creatures living in a community, are surrounded by words, whether it be through speech, books, or social media. 

Just pause and think about how amazing it is that we can talk. It is a wonderful thing that we can translate abstract ideas, thoughts, “nothingness” floating in our brain that has no firm physical reality, and we can put it into words–words that others can understand. We can form words through the flow of air through our lungs and the molding of that air by our tongues. We can make sounds that tell others what is going on in our brain. How amazing is that? Words are a direct flow of what the brain is thinking about.

Words are such powerful, wonderful things. They can build up and break down. They can wound and heal. And each one of us has this power. 

It’s so easy to let a harsh word slip. But my sister and brother in Christ, do not allow your tongue to live unguarded. It can be sweet as honey, but cut deeper than a sword.

Summary: Our actions and words either flow with truth or are entangled in lies. But either way, they reflect the heart of a person. A good person will bear good fruits which help to sustain others, and an evil person will bear evil fruits which only work to poison others.

Ask Yourself: What do my actions objectively say about me? What do my words and the tones I use objectively say about me? Lastly, what do I WANT them to say about me and how do I amend my ways to be consistent with that?