SALSF:DAILY DEVOTION 22-07-2019

GOOD FRUIT AND BAD FRUIT!

"For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." ( Luke  6:43 KJV).

One way to measure how closely we're really following Jesus is to take an honest look at our lives. (You could ask another person to give you feedback about this, too - your leader, a pastor, a mentor, a friend). In our open verse for  for today, Jesus said, "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit" (Luke 6:43-44). He's talking about people, not trees. And "fruit" symbolizes our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

"Good fruit" are things like love, joy, peace, patience, honesty, kindness, goodness, justice, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These are what the Scripture called "Fruit of the Spirit" ( See Galatians 5:22-23). These fruits are to be reflecting in the life of the New Creation — the born again man. These fruits help him to walk in Spirit and in the consciousness of his newness of life (See Romans 6:4).

"Bad fruit" are things like selfishness, pride, greed, anger, envy, gossip, unkindness, and hatred. These are the works of the natural man through his flesh (See Galatians 5:19-21) He is prone to exhibit these bad attitudes and conceive the thought-patterns because of the Adamic or sinful nature he's naturally born into. But when he gets saved, he gradually replaces the bad fruits with good ones. It's a spiritual transition of thought patterns! 

As we follow Jesus and grow closer to him, his Spirit living in us will help us produce more and more good fruit, and less and less bad fruit. The changes in thoughts, attitudes, and actions will continue for a person's whole life because God is never done teaching us, shaping us, encouraging us, and transforming us into the person he created us to be - someone who consistently loves him and loves others.

PRAYER OUTLINES

• — Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in the inner man so you can suppress the works of the flesh.
• — Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your thought pattern, so you can think like Him, speak like Him and act like He would.

Today is a blessed one for you and your household. Be conscious of this all through today.

Pastor D. STANLEY-MARCUS

President