Christ's Fruit or Rotten Fruit

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, October 02, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 6-7 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-275.html
Message Title: Christ's Fruit or Rotten Fruit

Hello My Friend,

Fruit, there is nothing like biting into a sweet, ripe, juicy piece of fruit, it's so refreshing. Did you ever get a piece that looked so good, but when you bit into it it tasted awful? Christians are like fruit, Jesus is the vine, He is our life line, the trials of life are the fertilizer that feeds us, the tribulations of life are the pruning that removes all the bad things that keep us from budding, and God's Word is the water that keeps us growing. There are many who claim they are Christians, but are not from His vine, they are like those rotten fruit that look really good, but deep down are rotten inside. How can we tell if they are Christ's or not? By their fruit. “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” - Matthew 7:18-20.

There is a big difference between a religious person and one who belongs to Christ. Ever hear the saying, Jesus is my Saviour, not my religion? Religion is any system of faith and worship. It is the belief and worship of a higher power or powers governing the world. Pagans, Muslims, Turks, Hindus, Indians, Christians, and yes even Evolutionists follow a system of faith and rules man has made up about that faith. Religion takes away the simplicity of Christ, and you can say that God does or does not exist in many forms, but the truth is there is only one God, there is only one way to God, and He will call out the religious nuts from the true worshipers. As Jesus continues speaking to His disciples and the multitudes that gathered to hear Him, He calls out the religious who were clearly basing their works on their salvation.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” - Matthew 6:1-6.

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Part of being a fruit of Christ is giving tithes and offerings, and while God does want us to bring our tithes and offerings into the church (they are necessary for operating the church), He does not want us to be boastful about it to ourselves or anyone else. When we give to God, we must do it in a way that is approved by God, not man, God takes more notice of a person humbly giving one penny than one proudly giving a million dollars. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” - Malachi 3:10.

Another way of being a fruit of Christ is in the way we present ourselves, we must understand that our behavior has nothing to do with our salvation, but it has everything to do with showing Christ in us. If we live about the way the world does how is the world going to understand the importance of knowing Christ. And, let me tell you, they will fall for the religious before they will fall for Christ, because the religious know exactly how to reel them in when they are searching for that one thing that would secure and comfort them. As Jesus continues speaking concerning religion, He stresses the importance of seeking the things of God, not the world.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?' Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” - Matthew 6:22-26,30.

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! The light of Christ shines through every one of His fruit as they walk with Him daily. A true relationship with Christ transforms the believer, if the light is true than the hearts desire will be devoted to pleasing God. However, if it is evil than it will be devoted to the things of the world and will learn to hate God. We who are the light cannot abide with darkness, it will keep us from being fruitful. Jesus explains this further.

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” - Matthew 7:6-8,11,12.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. Dogs and pigs are unclean and detestable to the Jews, so Jesus used them in this illustration. That which is holy represents God's Word, dogs, wild and ferocious back then represent those who oppose and or abuse God's Law. These would be the religious groups placing harsh rules and penalties, far greater than what God's Law allowed and or adding their traditions to the Law. The pearls represent the precious Gospel, and the swine or pigs represent those who have corrupted or profaned the Gospel. God's Word is only useful to those who are holy, meaning saved, not for those who oppose or corrupt it. Any religion that changes or corrupts His Word and the simplicity of the Gospel is false and will be called out for the rotten fruit that they are. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.

This topic comes up so much, it means that religion does not get us to heaven, only those that do the will of the Father get into heaven. What is the will of the Father? Believing in and accepting the simple Gospel of Christ as the only way to be clean, holy, good, and righteous before God. This does not meant that we will never sin again, that we will lose our salvation if we do, or that we will not face the consequences for sin, but it does mean that we are the fruit of Jesus and we stand before God as those we have not sinned because Jesus stands before us. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” - 1 John 3:7-9.

Today's Prayer: God, Help me to walk faithfully with You day by day. As I earnestly seek You I will receive the reward You promise to those who do. Daily temptations, doubts, and distractions seek my heart’s affection, but I will remain faithfully committed to You, my Lord and Savior. Though I’ve not seen You physically Your Spirit indwells me and I am filled with Your joy. No matter what circumstances I face , I believe in You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I know that I can do and endure all things through You. Lead me and guide me in Your will and Your way. I love You, Lord and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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