“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them”-Matthew 7:20
Apple trees don’t bring forth oranges now do they? We know that an apple tree is an apple tree when the evidence is seen through its manifestation of bearing apples, right? What if one day, we were to witness that an apple tree all of a sudden brought forth an orange? Wouldn’t we be puzzled by the abrupt occasion and question the authenticity of the tree and perhaps perform some scientific tests to attempt to figure out this opposite, unsual, unnatural occurrence? Just as we would be confused as to why an apple tree is suddenly bringing forth oranges, the people of the world quite often question the genuineness of our Christian faith and are many a times confused by our actions and appearance professing to be Christians – Christ-like people! That should not be the case. The Bible says “God is not the author of confusion“-1 Corinthians 14:33 and as His followers why should there be anything in us that places a thought of confusion in the minds of others?
The bible calls us “trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”-Isaiah 61:3. Why trees? Well, trees are visible to the eye. Everyone knows what a tree is when they see one. In like manner, God wants people to know that we are His when they lay their eyes on us just as they would easily recognize a tree to be a tree! As trees of righteousness our dressing and character is required to bring forth fruits of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance”-Galatians 5:22,23. Why are some of us bringing forth bad fruits of indecency, indiscipline and lack of self respect in our appearance and conduct? Why have we become as the apple tree that strangely brings forth oranges causing confusion in the hearts of men? Naturally, apple trees bring forth apples; orange trees bring forth oranges. There’s never a confusion in the fruit that each tree bears! Let’s stop playing the opposite game! If we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ and that we have truly been transformed on the inside, let us allow Christ to complete the work on the outside as well. If we belong to God, we are to appear like children of God. We can’t produce apples being orange trees! It is falsehood to claim to be Christians while dressing and behaving like the children of Satan!
The bible calls us “trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”-Isaiah 61:3. Why trees? Well, trees are visible to the eye. Everyone knows what a tree is when they see one. In like manner, God wants people to know that we are His when they lay their eyes on us just as they would easily recognize a tree to be a tree! As trees of righteousness our dressing and character is required to bring forth fruits of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance”-Galatians 5:22,23. Why are some of us bringing forth bad fruits of indecency, indiscipline and lack of self respect in our appearance and conduct? Why have we become as the apple tree that strangely brings forth oranges causing confusion in the hearts of men? Naturally, apple trees bring forth apples; orange trees bring forth oranges. There’s never a confusion in the fruit that each tree bears! Let’s stop playing the opposite game! If we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ and that we have truly been transformed on the inside, let us allow Christ to complete the work on the outside as well. If we belong to God, we are to appear like children of God. We can’t produce apples being orange trees! It is falsehood to claim to be Christians while dressing and behaving like the children of Satan!
Jesus Christ is our perfect example of a tree of righteousness. His life displayed all of the fruits of the spirit; hence, the lives of Christ-like individuals living in this modern world should demonstrate the exact characteristics. Only trees of righteousness bring forth fruits of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance..” Trees of unrighteousness however, brings forth fruits of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, lying, malice, fornication, covetousness, foolish talking, etc. (Ephesians 4:25- 31; 5: 3-5). Which tree are you?
In our places of work, school, neighborhoods let us walk as fruitful trees of righteousness! Let not our actions and our dress arouse any shadow of doubt in the minds of people to bring shame to the name of Christ! We are called to be transparent people as children of God. May we be flourishing trees bearing good fruits from the inside out that our Father in heaven will be seen and glorified through us in Jesus’ name!
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil 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.”-Matthew 7:17-19
Are you a Tree of Righteousness Bearing Precious Fruits in His Holy Vineyard?
Have a blessed week!
-Charity