My Daily Pause

They shall be know by their fruit

The world (and many that claim to be Christians) will use Matthew 7:1 as a way to avoid being told they are living wrong. To make that verse an instruction against judging good and evil causes a conflict with nearly everything else Jesus taught.

Take for instance Matthew 12:33-37. Jesus gives us a benchmark on how to tell the difference between good and evil. We can use a person’s actions and their speech to determine what kind of people they are because:

• We can easily know the kind of tree by the fruit hanging on it.
• Good speech comes from good people
• Good things come from good treasure

In this passage, Jesus tells us we simply cannot be expected to consider sinful people good.

To prove my point, I challenge the reader to a little mental exercise. What goodness is demonstrated by a few of these “harmless” activities?

• Gambling (The lottery, gas station slots, boy’s night poker games)
• Social Drinking
• Showing cleavage (Or dressing immodestly in other ways)
• Crude language

Through Jesus’ point we can understand our lifestyle is a very accurate indicator of what is inside our heart. It will definitely be used in the final judgment!

As I read through Matthew, (and listening again via audio book) I can’t help but wonder how I would have reacted when Jesus walked up to me and told me to follow him. The disciples had successful businesses and they were in good standing in their community – The kind of lives you don’t just walk away from.

To top it off, they were asked to keep making these adjustments in their lives. Jesus sent them out to teach with literally nothing but the clothes on their back. (Matthew 10:5-15)

They were warned there would be persecution. (Matthew 10:16-17)

They had to go and say things that would not be popular among those they taught.

I found this about the disciples in Burton Coffman’s commentaries:

These men were not princes of the blood, but fishermen, a tax collector, and followers of other ordinary occupations. They were industrious, more than ordinarily successful in business, keen of mind, sensitive of soul, honest, perceptive, and courageous. They were ambitious, hard-working men, an excellent lot indeed; but apparently they possessed no skills or talents of an extraordinary nature. They were men most remarkably like the best men of any stable community anywhere on earth, peculiarly fitted to be the chosen representatives of all mankind, and eminently qualified for the possession of that power and dignity to which the Master called and elevated them.

These look like qualities of the kind of people that are easy to follow. When Paul told us there is no law against bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), when he told the Philippians to act the way they saw him act, (Philippians 4:9) I have no doubt that he meant for us to work toward becoming people like this.

Yes, it’s a lot to ask.

It’s not very easy.

But the payoff is outstanding!

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

Daily Bible reading for July 1

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Deuteronomy 32:48-33:29
Nahum 2:1-3:4
Matthew 10

Being In Christ is a Way of Life

Paul described often the condition of being “in Christ.” One who is in Christ is someone that has obeyed the Gospel and is faithful to God.

We know that Paul really liked to make lists when he wrote his letters, and he didn’t disappoint us in Galatians 5. One of the best loved passages in the New Testament is the “Fruit of the Spirit”. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Here is a glance at the qualities that make up the fruit of the Spirit with a link to previous articles about them.

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering
5. Gentleness
6. Goodness
7. Faith
8. Meekness
9. Temperance

Bonus Scripture – Peter’s list of qualities that make us fruitful (2 Peter 1:3-11) These are known as the Christian graces.

Today’s daily reading list included 2 Peter 1:1-11. This might be considered a companion piece to the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 as it describes the action needed to make our faith fruitful.