Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Live Worthy of Your Calling
Rev. Sonu Varghese
17 In the same way, every
good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
A little boy went over to a pastor's house, and saw the pastor doing some carpentry work in his garage. The boy simply stood there watching for quite a long time. Wondering why this boy was curiously watching him thee pastor stopped and said, "Son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on how to build something?"
The little boy replied, "No. I am just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."
Often, we will find out what we are made of by what comes out of our mouths in both good and bad circumstances. When we have a change in conduct and character in our lives, it is a type of spiritual fruit.
Matthew chapter 7 is the conclusion of the sermon on the mount which is the ethics of the kingdom of God. The ethical and eschatological teaching of Jesus in the sermon concludes with the parable drawn from the daily life of the community. The basic question here is how can we bear good fruit? v.17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but bad tree bears bad fruit. The good fruit Jesus is taking about is the blessedness (Matt 5: 1-11). The values used in this are being meek, mourning, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, fight for righteousness etc which is the continuation of the Old Testament value system. They are the crystallization of the Old Testament ethics and values. For e.g. the beatitude of mourning should not just be limited for a loss. It should be for a higher pain and understanding that we have yet more to attain in our lives. Also being meek is not to remain as a timid person. Rather it is to remain confident when we stand up for a cause. If we are not meek we remain being as a loud person. The trainer in the video series of ‘The Karate Kid’, is a good example of being meek. Though he is strong enough to tackle his opponents, he never gets loud in his expressions. We need to understand that all these values mentioned are our responsibilities. True blessedness is this responsibility and not the reward we get after we achieve it. Though this passage speaks about future rewards, it serves as a perfect intersection of the gift of God and the responsibility of humanity. All the beatitudes stated here are the values which Christ showed in his life. Here the person himself/herself is becoming a sermon. Jesus preached only those things which he lived in his life. v.20 thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. We are all entrusted to produce the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control". A Christian's life should be characterized by these things. Jesus said, " 'My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father' " John 15:8
A little boy went over to a pastor's house, and saw the pastor doing some carpentry work in his garage. The boy simply stood there watching for quite a long time. Wondering why this boy was curiously watching him thee pastor stopped and said, "Son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on how to build something?"
The little boy replied, "No. I am just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."
Often, we will find out what we are made of by what comes out of our mouths in both good and bad circumstances. When we have a change in conduct and character in our lives, it is a type of spiritual fruit.
Matthew chapter 7 is the conclusion of the sermon on the mount which is the ethics of the kingdom of God. The ethical and eschatological teaching of Jesus in the sermon concludes with the parable drawn from the daily life of the community. The basic question here is how can we bear good fruit? v.17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but bad tree bears bad fruit. The good fruit Jesus is taking about is the blessedness (Matt 5: 1-11). The values used in this are being meek, mourning, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, fight for righteousness etc which is the continuation of the Old Testament value system. They are the crystallization of the Old Testament ethics and values. For e.g. the beatitude of mourning should not just be limited for a loss. It should be for a higher pain and understanding that we have yet more to attain in our lives. Also being meek is not to remain as a timid person. Rather it is to remain confident when we stand up for a cause. If we are not meek we remain being as a loud person. The trainer in the video series of ‘The Karate Kid’, is a good example of being meek. Though he is strong enough to tackle his opponents, he never gets loud in his expressions. We need to understand that all these values mentioned are our responsibilities. True blessedness is this responsibility and not the reward we get after we achieve it. Though this passage speaks about future rewards, it serves as a perfect intersection of the gift of God and the responsibility of humanity. All the beatitudes stated here are the values which Christ showed in his life. Here the person himself/herself is becoming a sermon. Jesus preached only those things which he lived in his life. v.20 thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. We are all entrusted to produce the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control". A Christian's life should be characterized by these things. Jesus said, " 'My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father' " John 15:8
PRAYER
Eternal God, help us to
bear good fruits in all that we do and say and may our life be a blessing for
all whom we meet daily. Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Bearing good fruit is a mark of discipleship
Bearing good fruit is a mark of discipleship