Nurture or Pain

Matthew 7:15-18  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.


I'll admit it, I have an obsession with the fruit of the spirit. I have relished seeing those traits increase in my life as I have grown deeper into my faith. I want people to see those things when they look at my life not because I am so good or so great but rather because of what God has done and is doing. Left to my own devices I would have the same old internal state the I lived with for so many years. A world filled with anxiety and the need to protect myself from others. I really didn't have the ability to give or receive love in what I now know is the most meaningful way. I even had to protect myself from Marsha who was closest to me of all. Notice it is the inward ravenous wolves which Jesus identifies. The external is so easy to fake and disguise. The true fruit develops in our heart and in our soul and although they are internal and God produced, they are noticeable. Jesus says you will know them by their fruit. He clearly knows that good fruit in a person is visible to others and can influence the development of good fruit in others. I pray every day for the fruit of the spirit to hang ripe on my vine or drooping from my branches, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. Those bring nurture, the bad fruit brings pain.