Bad Fruit?

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 6:43-45 ESV

43 For no good tree bears bad fruit,  
nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,
44 for each tree is known by its own fruit.  
For figs are not gathered from thornbushes,
nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  
45 The good person  
out of the good treasure of his heart produces good,  
and the evil person  
out of his evil treasure produces evil, 
for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
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Bad fruit.
Good fruit.

No good tree bears bad fruit.
No good tree bears bad fruit?

Does that mean that Christians never sin?
No.

Christian,
you know that you still sin.
The question is this:
Is your life filled with bad fruit?
Is bad fruit a way of life for you?
Or is Jesus your way of life,
but you have sin that remains?

Jesus says, “Out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
What is the abundance in your heart?

Is it the love of things in this world?
Is it the need for something more or other than Jesus?
Or is it Jesus?

Even if is is Jesus,
you know that there still is sin that remains.

What are you going
to do with the sin that remains?

Will you be too afraid to admit it
or too prideful to acknowledge it?

Are you so ashamed of that bad fruit that you try and keep it hidden?
When you think of approaching the Lord is it too hard to get too close?

Perhaps you have a hidden root, something that remains
unseen to others but you know that it is there.
Do you keep in under control for a while and then something triggers
you and you find yourself falling back into that behavior?
Or is it so habitual that you can hardly imagine your life without it?

Is there anything in your life that you feel powerless over?
Do you believe Jesus has the power to overcome your sin?

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Jesus is what He says He is.
You can follow Him and He will lead you to freedom.
The One who has set the captive free is the One who will
bring true freedom and joy into your life.

Look to Him to lead you to freedom.

Cry out to your Savior. Confess your sin to Him
and confess your sin to another Christian.

1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
9 If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and 
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another  
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

If you are a Christian,
Truth Himself lives in your heart.
He will reign!
He has power over sin, death, and your flesh!

Run to Him. Run to Jesus.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 6 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

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

PRAYER

Lord, I confess that I am still burdened and feel
powerless over my sin of (fear, anxiety, anger, lust, lying,
shopping, unbelief, unkindness, pride, selfishness, laziness,
sluggishness, half-heartedness, not sharing the Gospel).

Help me to grow, mature, and bear much good fruit.
May I reflect the treasure of Christ that is within my heart
and glorify Him in all I do.

In His hands for His glory,

Laurie
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