a banana, but discovered a peach? It would really be a surprise if that happened wouldn't
it! But, an apple is an apple and a banana is just that, a banana! There's an old saying, if
it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...well guess what!...it's a duck!
Matthew 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." The Lord Jesus was
reiterating a simple fact of nature with this statement. What a man produces stems from
what he is. If his life is producing good fruit, it is because it comes from a good root,
planted in good rich soil. If it's a crop of bad fruit...well, it's time to check the soil and
the root!
Galatians 5:19 - 21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
told you in time past, that they which do such things, shall not inherit the kingdom
of God." The natural mans heart is a heart that produces evil. The root is not planted in
good soil. The soil comes from this old sinful world. The heart is cold towards God,
therefore the fruit that it produces is rotten and points to an unregenerated, sinful nature.
You can do nothing to cover up the putrid odor of this rotten fruit...it proclaims to all, that
it is full of vile sin, and is therefore no good.
Galatians 5:22 & 23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
What a difference in this fruit which is produced by the Spirit of God in the lives of saved,
blood bought children of God. These fruits of the Spirit are the attributes of our wonderful
Savior. We are a part of this Living Vine, John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches:
he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:" The Spirit
filled life produces a sweet perfumed fruit, that is not only pleasant to man, but is wholly
acceptable to the Heavenly Father. We are to God, the sweet aroma of His precious Son!
2 Corinthians 2:15a "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ,"
What is your life producing today? You might think you are fooling people, but what
you are on the inside produces unmistakable fruit on the outside. Checking your fruit
will let you know what your root is planted in. Either it's in worldly soil which only will
produce rot and garbage; or your root is planted in the soil at the foot of the old rugged
cross,watered by the precious blood of the sweet Lamb of God, and fertilized by the Word
of God. Are you a pungent odor or a sweet aroma?
Mark 4:20 "And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear
the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and
some an hundred."
Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,
In Thy gracious hands I am;
Make me, Savior, what Thou art,
Live Thyself within my heart.
Charles Wesley
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