A Tree and Its Fruit

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 thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

-Luke 6: 43-45

Most people won’t plant a thornbush in their yard, but will plant an apple or other tree to enjoy.  Likewise most of us want to be ‘good’ people, and produce ‘good fruit,’ but what is that and how do we do so?  This text tells us that our fruit is not only the things we do, but also the words we say.  It seems we have to learn to recognize the good in the world, gravitate toward that good and away from evil, and finally store this good up in our heart.  I think that happens when we truly appreciate the good we experience, remember it during our interactions with each other, and try to share it in word and deed.  The hard part comes in doing that consistently, even when I’m tired or upset. 

-Lance Harding

 Let us pray…

Dear Lord, Help me seek and find the good you have blessed us with in this world.  Help me truly appreciate these blessings and store them up in my heart.  Help these grow in my heart and mind until they burst forth in the things I think, the things I do and the things I say.  Amen.