Understanding Purpose!

We used to have a couple apple trees in our back yard. One of them got run over by a wagon when our children were growing up and it did not survive. The other one produced a few apples from time to time, but it seemed no matter how much I trimmed it or sprayed it for insects, it just did not produce. The tree was apparently not healthy enough to produce good fruit. A few years ago I made the decision to cut it down and a friend made use of the wood for his wood stove.

In our front yard we have two fruit trees: a dwarf pear and a dwarf cherry. This past year we enjoyed tasty fruit from both of them. In fact, it was a great year for the cherries and so my wife canned some to be used in pies and cobblers and made a good amount of jelly as well.

With the fruit trees we have had and do have, there has been the EXPECTATION OF FRUIT. That is why we bought them. We have other trees in the yard that provide some shade, but that was not the purpose in planting the fruit trees.

Jesus stated. . .
"(17) So, every HEALTHY TREE BEARS GOOD FRUIT, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. (18) A HEALTHY TREE cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear GOOD FRUIT. (19) Every tree that does not bear GOOD FRUIT is cut down and thrown into the fire." ( Matthew 7:17-19 ESV)

The context in which Jesus spoke here related to recognizing false prophets or teachers. By their fruit they would be known. Like the quality of fruit is relative to the health of the tree, so it is with people. If our spiritual health is not what it ought to be, how can GOOD FRUIT be expected? It is the good tree that bears GOOD FRUIT and the life properly connected to God is the life that will also bear GOOD FRUIT. (Note Jesus' analogy in John 15:1-6 as well.) May we remain well rooted in the truth of God so that we are able to continue bearing GOOD FRUIT as is the expectation in our relationship with Him.

Have a great day BEING PRODUCTIVE FOR THE LORD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Expectations