After Pentecost Devotional - Day 14
"Every
tree that produces bad fruit will be chopped down and burned. You can
tell who the false prophets are by their deeds." Matthew 7:19-20
We
generally don't expect to hear Jesus saying things like chopping down
and burning trees that don't produce good fruit. This comment comes
in the midst of a series of statements with regard to false teachers
and improper directions in life. Jesus starts off with a general
warning to avoid the crowded rush to follow the wrong paths in life,
paths that lead to death. He then shifts to talking about false
prophets who encourage that rush towards death.
Jesus'
words with regard to the trees producing improper fruit is related to
those false prophets, teachers who are leading people to destruction.
He famously calls them wolves in sheep's clothing, coming to attack
those they lead to destruction. He then warns us to beware of them,
recognizing them by the fruit of their lives.
Jesus
was quoting John the Baptist with these words about trees being
chopped down. There is a difference in his usage, however. John was
addressing the crowds as though they were the ones in danger of being
chopped down as unfruitful trees and thrown into the fire. Jesus is
speaking instead of the false prophets. As we deal with unfruitful
trees, so his words would direct us to make the same judgments in
regard to the people who would lead us.
What
kind of fruit do the lives of our leaders produce? Do we see In them
the attitudes, actions, and character we would like to see in our own
lives and the lives of our children? Does the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23) flow in their lives? These are the signs of the
people whose leadership we should be following. All too often,
however, we pick our leaders on the basis of values and priorities
our society tells us are more important.
We
have seen Christians following those who speak of wealth, power,
violence, and other distortions at odds with the principles Jesus
preached and lived. We have seen Christians seeking to emulate the
business leaders of the larger society, setting aside the gospel
Jesus preached as inappropriate or inapplicable to their economic
lives and business projects. We have watched as Christians follow as
leaders those whose personal lives exude immorality on many levels in
order to hold fast to political or social platforms. What Jesus calls
us to is something very different.
Jesus
calls us to assess those who would be leaders in our midst. He calls
us to ask the hard questions. He calls us to question the quality of
their character. He calls us to question the values behind their
actions. He calls us to assess the principles that guide their
speech, their priorities, and their decisions. He calls us to assess
the results and impact of their lives upon others.
Rather
than looking at litmus tests of phrases they are willing to
pronounce, Jesus calls us to look at the results of their lives. If
those are not in keeping with God, they are unworthy of our
acceptance.
Determine
to take a good look at those you would follow. Do their lives measure
up in Godly fruit? If you follow them, your life will generally look
similar in character.
"Lord,
help me to be honest in assessing those I follow, that my life
reflect only you."
—©Copyright 2016, Christopher B. Harbin
http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
My latest books can be found here on amazon
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