You Will Know A Tree By Its Fruit

About a month ago the LORD allowed me to see several scriptures as they fit together.  Before this time, these words were fragmented - separate pieces.  Once the pieces came together, my eyes were open to the big picture of what God wants from us all.  If I had known two months ago what I know now, this would have summarized my book.  That is how important it is.  

Matthew 7 starting in verse 12 goes like this:  "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."  Everything that is taught in the Bible can be summed up in this phrase.  Wow.  But listen to what comes next.  "You can enter Gods Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."

Can you see that?  The road to life is to do to others what you would want them to do for you.  This road is difficult and narrow.  Few will ever find it.  Then it says, "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.  You can identify them by thieri fruit, that is, by the way they act.  Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.  So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.  Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."  

So how are we going to know a tree by its fruit?  Does this person treat others like he would want to be treated?  A good tree CANNOT produce bad fruit.  A good tree WILL ALWAYS treat others like he would want to be treated.  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  If we are not treating all people like we would want to be treated, we are still a bad tree.  We have rotten places (enemies inside of us) that have to be cut out.  If we are still jealous or judgmental or proud or covetous or greedy or unforgiving, etc., we are a bad tree, and we CANNOT bear good fruit.  It is not possible.  Jealousy will not let us treat others like we would want to be treated.  A judgmental spirit will not let us treat others like we would want to be treated.  Greed will not let us treat others like we would want to be treated.  Oh my!  Can you tell what kind of tree you are?  Are you happy with what you see?  I don't know a lot of people who treat every person they know like they would want to be treated.

Listen to what people are saying about what happened in Florida this week.  If you were one of the people sitting in that bar, how would you want people to treat you?  If you were the Islamic extremeist who is caught in a religion that promotes hate and death, what would you want someone to do for you?  

There is a scripture that has changed my life forever.  It is found in James 3:7-12.  "People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.  It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  Sometimes it praises our LORD and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.  Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs?  No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring."

All men have been made in the image of God.  If we curse them, we are speaking out against God.  We are not treating others like we would want to be treated.  We are a bad tree that cannot produce good fruit.  Only when we begin to open ourselves up to let God heal the hurts inside of us and to set us free from all the lies we have believed, can we come to a place that we will be called good.  A good tree CANNOT produce bad fruit.  LORD, help us.  We are not there yet.  Forgive us for the words we have spoken.  Forgive us for the judgment in our heart. Forgive us for thinking that we are better or more deserving than others.  We are not.  We are guilty.  Come, LORD Jesus, with power to wash our sins clean.  I ask this in Your precious name.  AMEN

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