Tag Archives: manner

Trees

 

I was just made to realise something that came across in a rather profound manner. It has to do with Jesus’ comments regarding trees. He mentions that a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. He also says a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matthew 7:15-20  ESV

Here is my realisation. I have found myself believing the last part – bad trees produce bad fruit that I have completely forgotten about the first part – good trees produce good fruit. Here is what I mean – because I believe that a good tree cannot produce bad fruit, I do not cultivate the good tree and yet it is the absolute priority of where the work needs to be done.

What does it look like to keep cultivating the good things in my life that are producing good fruit?  The first thing that comes to my mind is a familiar Psalm – Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man[a]
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. – Psalm 1:1-3  ESV

In the kingdom of God I need to be careful on discerning what I see. Certain thorn bushes have berries that look like grapes, certain thistles have a flower, that from a distance make them look like figs. Looks can fool us for sure. By cultivating the good in me, I can discern more easily those who are as genuine as I am. I think Jesus was connecting soundness with good fruit. Soundness has something to do with sound living – free from defect, decay or disease, it’s healthy.  Being true to God, His Word and His grace is what I need to be aligned with. I believe that also means that I know my strength does not lie in myself, but in God who supplies everything I need. These I think are some keywords that describe fruit in a disciple – faith, hope, love, justice, wisdom, strength and self-control.

 

 

Standard

Changing how I think

 

These days I am becoming convinced, as a disciple, that I need to change how I think and act. I want to think and act as if I had the mind of Christ and it means I have a lot of change that needs to take place.  Paul challenges Philemon in the same way. Onesimus, a slave belonging to Philemon, had run away and somehow found himself to be a friend of Paul. The culture demanded severe punishment and even death. Paul is well aware of this and yet sends Onesimus back to Philemon. He challenges Philemon to see things differently, through the prism of being Christ’s disciple.

 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,  no longer as a bondservant[c] but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. – Philemon 1:15-16  ESV

I believe that Paul is challenging Philemon with the idea that there is a cost of being a disciple and that comes to us in the form of changed attitudes and actions.

What a tangible expression of discipleship.  Philemon was converted under Paul’s preaching and  then discipled by him. Onesimus was on the run from Philemon when he encountered Paul.  Paul then discipled Onesimus. He then sent Onesimus back to Philemon and expected Philemon to disciple Onesimus. I see that discipleship is intimate and deeply personal.

Maybe change comes in the form of detachment and even renunciation as I discover what being a disciple of Jesus looks like. Paul had to renounce the service of his new helper and return him to his master. As a new disciple, Onesimus had to leave Paul, face his owner and accept the consequences.

What I like about Paul modelling discipleship in relation to the one being discipled is how there needs to be behaviour representing a Christ-like manner, voluntarily doing the right thing.

 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,  yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you – Philemon 1:8-9  ESV

In other words, we are all in the family of Christ.

I am challenged today to seek the face of God and to seek His strength. I am never absent from the presence of Jesus – I live and move and have my being with Him. What I like about this verse in the Psalms is that while I am seeking God here, I am actually challenged to seek Him continually – in my devotions, day to day tasks, worship – everywhere.

Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones! – Psalm 105:4-6  ESV

Let’s face it – I count my time and all of my opportunities for seeking God for one sole purpose – preparing me for the time I will be with Him forever.

Standard