Good, Bad, or Fake?

Matthew 12:33-37 A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

How often do you think about how your words and actions affect other people? Do you build up, tear down, or leave a path of destruction in your wake? For most of us we think we are doing pretty good. We play nice, say nice things when everyone is around but what about when we are alone, competitive, or the person we do not like is not around?

You see criticism is a lot easier to dish out than praise. Anyone can point out what is wrong but very few people can overlook faults to find what is worthy of praise. The world says we need to tear everyone else down and leave a trail of broken friendships and bodies in our wake as we step over and hurt people in our climb to the top. But we are not of this world, as believers we are called to always be looking for the good in others and help to empower and encourage them. This means not talking bad about people behind their backs, encouraging the opposing team for a good play, and even helping those who would never help you back.

Yesterday we talked about in this day and age believers are known more for what we are against than the love and compassion Christ has placed inside of us. In the end our fruit will be one of three things.

Good Fruit: Fruit that builds others up and helps make life better. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Bad Fruit: Fruit that tears people down and makes life worst: Sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Fake Fruit: When you pretend to be Galatians 5:22-23 the good fruit, but your heart spews out Galatians 5:19-21 the bad fruit, when no one is looking or the person you dislike is not around.

So which fruit are you? The Good, the Bad, or the Fake!

#WhichFruitAreYou #iDevo #YFA