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Saturday, March 28, 2009
Fruit Checking
"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look
{gentle} like sheep. But they are really dangerous {like}
wolves. You will know these people because of the things they
do. Good things don't come from bad people, the same as
grapes don't come from thorn bushes. And figs don't come from
thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree makes good
fruit. And bad trees make bad fruit. A good tree cannot make
bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot make good fruit. Every tree
that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. You will know these false people by the fruit they make
(things they do)."
-- Matthew 7:15-20 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Disciples are not to be judgmental people. This does not mean, however,
that they are to be undiscerning. There is a principle designed into
the fabric of our universe: the fruit produced comes from the seed
planted. If we want to know about the character of people, look at the
consistent fruit of their lives! Jesus is worried about a very present
danger of false teachers deceiving his disciples and leading them to
disaster. He gives one simple, powerful and accurate test to use to
detect false teachers: check their fruit! What kind of character is
present in their lives? If it is not godly character, then they're not
to be trusted. Look at the fruit of their life. Watch what they do.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Tender Shepherd, I know it hurts you to see us led astray by false
shepherds. I ask you, O Lord my true Shepherd, please bear your fruit
in me. In addition, I pray that you protect your flock from the wolves.
Give me wisdom and insight to not follow a false shepherd or to be led
astray by false teachers. I want to follow only you! In the name of the
Lamb who was slain, I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0328-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+7:15-20&sr=1&t=erv
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