Scripture Reading: Luke 6.43-45 Today's inspiration: Every tree is known by its fruits. Luke 6.44

Good Morning.

I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest against the earth's sweet lowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear a nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain, who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.

On the third day of creation, God made trees, and I think He was very fond of His handiwork. He gives trees, (in various forms), prominent roles throughout His-story--there was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden-Genesis 2.9; the psalmist's comparison of the faithful man to a strong tree firmly planted--Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord~and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1; then there were the boats He taught from; the tree from which His cross was made--Luke's words in Acts 5: "Jesus... whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree"; there were the olive trees He prayed under in the Garden of Gethsemane, and more. . . Here in Luke 6, Jesus likens trees to believers. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit." He then specifically mentions fig trees and grapes. Fig trees have big strong leaves and sturdy, dense fruit, while grape vines are more delicate looking, but the wood of the vine strong and resilient. Clearly, the grape vine would not yield figs, nor the fig tree grapes, nor would anyone expect that! Strong fruit would come from the health of its source.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good...Jesus said. How are you doing, Christian? Are you bearing good fruit? Kingdom fruit, that is. In order for a tree to produce good fruit, it must be healthy~its health comes from within, from roots that go down deep which then produce strong fruit; growing believers can feed themselves with the nourishment of God's Word, and seeking after the things of God. When we do, first there is 'internal' fruit--> Christ-like character or what Paul in Galatians 6 calls the 'fruit of the Spirit': love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Funny thing, as these fruits develop in us, our hearts become more like His. For out of the overflow of his heart the mouth speaks.

'Internal' fruits can't help but produce 'external' fruits~ for they are a natural byproduct. What fruit can be seen in your life, friend? Look at the fruits of the Spirit--how are you doing? Are you growing in love for others, kindness toward them, patience with the intolerable, and in self control? (how did that one get in there?) Out of all of your activities in a given day or week, which have lasting value? Hmmm. . . Often the things that I deem so urgent are not those which are most important.

So, let's be like the tree in Psalm 1--plant ourselves by streams of living water--that we might prosper in Him. Then our fruit will be abundant.

So that you may know,

Christine