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106. Being a Fruit Inspector


Deuteronomy 18:14-22, Matthew 7:15-23, Luke 6:43-45,
Key Verse: "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 out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:45

Another choice that we face, as Jesus’ disciples, is who we will listen too. This has actually been the only choice since the beginning. Adam and Eve listened to the wrong voice and made the wrong choice in the Garden of Eden. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon warns us of the call of wisdom and folly over our lives and pleads with us to make the right choice. Our choice of who to listen to, will bear the same consequences for our lives today as in the days of Adam, Abram, Moses, Solomon, and on it goes.

God warned His people, before entering the land, that false prophets, or leaders would come. He called His people to be discerning and not be led astray by false teachings and religious practices.

Now, Jesus is again repeating this caution. "You will know them by their fruit." At first, this may sound contradictory to Jesus' earlier teaching about judging. However, there, Jesus had warned not to condemn, not to judge the heart. The fruit, however is from the overflow of the heart. It is what is produced for all to see. Judge that and discern whether it is genuinely from God, or not.

This is why it is important to be in God's word, to be familiar with His teachings and His leading. When you know what is real, it is easy to discern what is not. If you don't know God's word, your task will be more difficult.

Even God Himself, discerns between who is His and who is not. We will revisit this theme later, in more depth, but let His warning stand. "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven." The Lord is discerning and knows His own and He calls us to do the same.

Hymn: "Revelation"  



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