No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. ~ Luke 6:43-45 (NIV)
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Ain't it the truth...
It's amazing the crud that can bubble up from our hearts and out of our mouths, huh? So, if a good tree can't bear bad fruit, does that mean that we, as believers, are bad trees? Hmm...
Since we all still struggle with sin in this life, we are bound to have times when negative stuff comes out of our mouths. But I think it's the pattern of living that Jesus is talking about, what's at the core of your being. If God is at the center, in your heart by faith in Jesus, you have a good core, and your words will reflect that...even if, at times, bad fruit comes from some weird grafting that took place when you weren't looking. But, when God is absent from a person's core, it is relatively easy to see when they open their mouth . . . sarcasm, cynicism, hatred, malice, greed, lust, degrading others, degrading God.
If God is at your core, your words should reflect Him. His character-building in your life should be a clear contrast from someone who doesn't have God. So, can you or anyone else see a difference? What do your words prove about what's inside?
If you find yourself speaking in a way that has "bad fruit" written all over it, I hope you can humble yourself and go to God to get right. Ask Him to clean out all the infestation and disease of your tree, so that you can bear good fruit, fruit that sheds like on Him. (1 John 1:9)
Love,
Joelene
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