CARING FOR THE TREE. By Pastor Fernando

Scripture:
“A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”
Luke 6:45

Observation:
Jesus here is talking about the fruit in our lives. He points out the importance of looking for the evidence of a good heart. Good hearts produce good deeds, just like good trees produce good fruit. Jesus wants to be consistent, especially in dealing with the condition of our heart, which is the source form where life flows. The sad thing is that very often we want to fix the fruit rather than the tree. Fruit can be easily retouched to make it look very nice. But once you take a bite, you will really know if that fruit is really good.

Application:
Integrity in character is what determines the outcome in our lives. We may try to cover up the true condition of our hearts, and we may present really pretty fruit to people. But once they get a bite of reality, the true condition will be revealed. We need to pay attention at the way our heart grows. If our hearts are not good in one area, even if we try to cover up its real condition, sooner or later the true fruit will be evident. When we cover up we have to be self-conscious and very careful of the things we say and do. But once we loose control, then we will say what we really think. We must take care good care of our hearts and to make sure that everything, from the roots, to the trunk, to the branches, to the leaves are healthy. Only in that way our fruit will bring glory to God.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to keep a good care of my heart. I don’t want to have anything that will cause my fruit to be bitter. I just want to bring glory to your name. Please help me to identify roots of selfishness, judgment, and pride that could cause my fruit to be polluted. Let my entire life be a fruitful tree that not only brings glory to your name, but also that blesses others around me. Amen!