Luke 6: 43 – 45 A tree and its fruit

Luke 6: 43 – 45 A tree and its fruit

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briars. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

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If we are good, if our heart is in a right relationship with God, what we say to others will show it. Our speech will be full of love, and we will be concerned more to hear the other’s point of view than put across our own.

If, on the other hand, our heart is not in a right relationship with God, then that, too, will be obvious to others by what we say. We may be manipulative or domineering. We will be self-centred.

St Paul summed up the fruits that a Christian should display in their life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 22 – 23)

God wants each of us to be a good tree bearing good fruit. If we ask him to help us love him, and love our fellow humans; if we open our hearts to be obedient when he asks us to do something; if we open our eyes and really look to see what our neighbour needs, and then, as far as we can, work to supply that need; then he will be faithful and answer our prayer.

We will begin to experience the fruits of the Spirit. We will become a good tree bearing good fruit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for calling me to become a good tree yielding good fruit. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, whose presence in my heart will show me what you want me to do and help me to do it.

In Jesus’ name, Amen