So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:17-20, ESV
We are born as diseased trees, selfish in nature, so that all our works are as bd fruit.
But Christ’s blood can restore us and make us living and healthy, able to truly do good works.
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:8 ESV
This fruit is what is found in Galatians 5, but it is also to grow in godliness and to bring others along for the ride through sharing the Gospel and caring for each other.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23, NASB
If you lack any of these fruits, examine yourself and your salvation. All of these will spring forth as you pursue the righteousness of God and love others.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:2, NASB
Not all who call themselves Christians truly are. We can put on a good show, but God knows our hearts, and He judges our actions, or lack thereof.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 ESV
You can try being a good person and avoiding sin, and you may even have some success, but to live a truly good life takes relying on the Helper: the Holy Spirit.
In today’s video, I think it is pretty clear I had not had my coffee, yet! But if you look in the background, you can see evidence I was about to remedy that.*
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, and professor who was killed by the Nazis just days before the end of World War II.¹ Both he and James, the brother of Jesus, focused heavily on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
The Sermon on the Mount is basically Jesus’ teachings on how the Christian should live. Specifically for today, in 5:16 (ESV), Jesus says:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
If all we do are good things, but we do not really mention God, how could others give God glory? We may merely be “good people” in the eyes of the world.
Therefore, God gives us the direction we need in this matter:
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; Psalm 50:23a, ESV
When we give thanks to God, this directs people to Him! Thankfulness, a lifestyle of gratitude, is the thing that helps to center our life around Christ and leads others to Him.
A heart of gratitude not only gives the glory to God, but it can also help us to feel great and can help others to feel better.
However, the main point is that God is glorified. Gratitude, likewise, can keep us focused on Him so that we are more likely to seek His glory than to turn to anything else – including lashing out at this world and those in it.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
