By[33] “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.” – Matthew 12:33 (NKJV)
My mum once wanted to plant a small tree in front of the house. She wanted it but didn’t go to the market to purchase seedlings of a tree she liked. She just told one relative to bring a seedling, and that person did. But my mum couldn’t discern what plant she had planted for weeks. She had to wait for that tree to grow for a while before recognising it. What am I saying here? A tree is known by its fruit. In other words, what a tree produces gives an exposure to its identity. Farmers can relate to this very well. Whenever you have doubts about what kind of tree it is, just investigate the fruit it produces, and all your doubts will be cleared.
Jesus said if a tree is good, then its fruit is good. Consequently, if a tree is bad, its fruit will also be bad. Interpreting this in relation to people’s behaviour implies that a sinner remains a sinner because sin is inherent in him. But the saved are righteous because God confers His righteousness to those who accept Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour (see Romans 10:9). So, that means that in dealing with people, what they do isn’t a factor to consider – but what’s in them is what matters. If I uproot a tree, I don’t need to get rid of its fruits. Those fruits will die over time. But if I pluck its fruits, the tree will produce new ones. Right?
God wants you to stop sinning. So, in order to make you righteous, He sent Jesus to come and take away the sin of the world – which was in you when you weren’t saved [(and still in the unsaved as of today) – see John 1:29]. You cannot stop sinning by renouncing sin but by accepting Jesus as your salvation and living according to His ways. Dear friend, love the Lord and desist from evil by following God’s dictates.
You’re a blessing.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your love and care in my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You every day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD – 2025 – 121
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