From The One Year Devotional Prayer Book Vol. II by Johnny Hunt
God, thank You for another day to live for You. I am Your servant; I am Your private, reporting to You, the general. Help me this day to be a healthy, responsible follower of Christ. Help me to bear good fruit worthy of Your name. Amen.
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. – Matthew 7:17–20
Jesus was the master teacher. He communicated deeply profound spiritual truths by using analogies from everyday life. In our text today, He told the disciples how citizens in God’s kingdom are to live by comparing believers to trees. As followers of Christ, we will not be perfect here on earth, but we should consistently bear good fruit in service to God. Someone who habitually dishonors God in his or her life and speech is not a follower of Christ. First John 3:10 states, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
The sixteenth-century reformer Martin Luther said some things that can inspire the child of God in any generation. He said, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.
I cannot and I will not recant, for it is neither safe nor honest to violate one’s conscience.” Luther also said, “There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day.” We are to so live for Christ and bear good fruit (this day), for we will all appear before Christ and give an account of our lives (that day). If you repeatedly bear bad fruit, you need to become a new tree! Ask God to save you right now. If you know the Lord, keep bearing good fruit and get ready for that day!
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Written in the same style as Jesus Calling®, Jesus Today™contains all-new devotions for a hope-filled walk with God. Born out of missionary Sarah Young’s own trials, Jesus Today shows that hope shines brightest in adversity. Grow in grace, hear from God, and walk with Jesus Today.