APRIL 13 – THORN BUSH AND A GRAPE PLANT!

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?” (Mathew 7:16).

God has spoken these words for the very purpose of cautioning against false prophets. A particular plant can produce its own fruit only. “….by their fruits you will know them” (Mathew 7:20).

When you accept Jesus Christ, the grape plant, you get attached to Him. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. After being attached to Jesus Christ, what you need to do is to stand firm with Him. When you get connected to Jesus Christ and be in non-stop relationship with Him, you will reflect the characteristics of Jesus Christ to others.  The Fruits of Spirit will be seen in you only when you do so,

Jesus said, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits, you will know them.” (Mathew 7:17-20). You should always reveal Christ just like the fruits that exhibit the trees of their origin

Jesus Christ was always revealing His Father during His entire life. The Scripture says, “…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3). Just because He was able to give fruits as His Father liked, He was able to categorically declare “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Dear children of God, those who see you should see Christ in you.

When a servant of God visited a home, the husband and wife were involved in a quarrel there. On seeing the servant of God, the quarrelling wife told “Sir, he looks like an angel when he is in the church, but at home, he fights with me like a devil.” The husband complained “I remain like an angel at least in the church, but this woman resembles a devil in both the places. It will be better for me to reside in hell.”

The Scripture says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done, in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). Dear children of God, let every word and deed of yours be ones to reveal only Jesus Christ. Do not give space to Satan even by mistake.

To meditate: “For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew” (Zachariah 8:12).