Thursday, January 18

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."  (Matthew 12:33-37)

In this passage, Jesus speaks against the Pharisees, whose religious pride and fastidiousness to the law had caused them to become unaccountable to the Spirit behind that law.  Indeed, they trembled at Jesus's powerful testimony and the authority that He carried in Himself.

These words refer to the inner heart of each person.  Paul provides another reflection on this truth in Galatians 5:13-25, where contrasts life according to the flesh and the Spirit.  While the Pharisees would not have dared to admit it, they had chosen to live according to their flesh—but a very sanctimonious flesh at that.

Reading this passage encourages me to seek out the positive lesson.  How may we bring forth good fruit out of our lives?  Taken on the surface, we might believe that we need to make some inward change and improve our fruit-bearing ourselves.  Yet, we understand that, because of the sinful nature, we cannot really make this kind of progress.

Rather, we hunger and thirst for God's Spirit, recognizing that He alone may reshape our hearts according to God's heart.  We rest confident in the Spirit, knowing that He has the capacity to bring holiness into our lives and to make them an acceptable offering unto the Lord (Romans 12:1,2).

To whom will you submit your life today?  To the flesh?  Or to the Spirit?

If to the Spirit, may we pray together:  "Lord God, thank You for making it possible for us to bear fruit that honors You.  We submit ourselves to Your Holy Spirit.  Help us to become refashioned according to the pattern of Your Word.  Take away our anger and impatience as we trust completely in Your provision.  In Jesus's Name, amen."