“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 thornbushes, or gapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
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It's Fall on the West Coast of British Columbia, which means it’s apple season. Two weeks ago, we were wandering through an amazing private orchard on one of the Gulf Islands and were invited to pick whichever apples we wanted, as many as we could carry. We’re still enjoying the bounty! Multiple varieties, big and small, sweet and tart, red and green – wonderful! Amid all the abundance, we were specially looking for a specific variety we’d heard was ideally suited for baking pies. But we found none. That apple type simply wasn’t grown in that orchard. Nor did we find grapes, bananas, peaches, figs, thorns, or briers – none of those happen to grow on apple trees. No surprise.
Which, of course, is the context for Jesus’ teaching. “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.”Apples come from apple trees. More specifically, each variety produces its own unique crop – McIntosh (my favourite!), Gravenstein, Gala, Ambrosia, Honey Crisp, Spartan, Granny Smith, etc., etc., etc. More broadly, good fruit comes from a good, healthy tree; bad fruit from one that’s not.
The illustration translates easily into human experience. You see what’s in a person’s heart by what spills over into their actions and attitudes. The fruit of their life reveals what’s going on inside them. Specifically, their words demonstrate what’s in their heart and mind. The fruit is a dead give-away.
Which means, then, that if we are dedicated to following Jesus and allowing his fruit to be borne in us, we need to take our inner life seriously. The attitudes we nurture will spill forth. The images on which we dwell will impact our behaviour for good or evil. If we hold on to anger, or grudges, or jealousy, or lust, that tainting will get expressed, one way or another. On the other hand, if we hold tight to the grace we have received, and the forgiveness we have been shown, and revel in the beauty of our Lord’s created world, and soak in his Word, and nurture his love in our hearts, then the fragrance of his life will permeate our own. There will be good fruit.
The Apostle Paul, having urged us to “be anxious for nothing” but rather to allow God’s peace to capture our hearts and minds, speaks further about developing that inner life:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). When these are the thoughts filling our minds, good fruit results.
Again, Paul says, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2). If we lift our sights to Christ himself, his own life will increasingly be seen in us.
So, fill your heart with him. Set your mind on things above. Because what fills you, Jesus says, is what will spill forth.
You can tell the tree by its fruit.
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“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace.”
Lord Jesus, may it be. Live your life in me. Let the fruit be seen.
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Reflect:
What can you do today to make progress in setting “your heart on things above, where Christ is”? Think of one practical step. Put it into practice.
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Photo by Kelsey Todd on Unsplash
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