Daily Manna
Good Fruit From Good Heart
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Key Verse
“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes” (Luke 6:43,44).
TEXT — Luke 6:37-49
Message
The story is told of “a store manager who heard his clerk say to a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon”. Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week”. Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never”, he snarled, “Never, never say we’re out of any ware – say we have it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted anyway?” The clerk said, “Rain!” Imagine the embarrassment the manager had caused himself.
The human heart is the seat of all actions. Everything we think, say and do proceeds from the heart. While teaching the multitude, Jesus made a profound statement that establishes the direct relationship between what a person says and the condition of his heart. He illustrated His point by using the analogy of a fruit-bearing tree. From this illustration, we can deduce that the heart is the tree and words and actions are the fruits. Just as trees bear fruits according to their nature, so will actions and words reveal the very nature of the heart.
Since actions reveal the nature of the heart, a person who lies, fornicates, gossips, bears false witness and deceives, no doubt, has a corrupt heart. However, if the heart is good, pleasant, honest, just and pure, it is concluded the person is also good. No man can bring out something clean from an unclean vessel (James 3:11,12).
If you want your words and actions to be gracious to men and pleasing to God, then your heart must be converted and regenerated first. To have this experience, you must surrender your life to Christ, repent of your wicked ways, confess your sins and be forgiven. Secondly, pray for the circumcision of your heart and ask for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then, daily study, meditate and store God’s words in your heart. Be conscious of your words and actions, and pray for grace to live for God every day and everywhere.
Thought for the day
Gracious utterances come from a regenerated heart.
BIBLE
in one year
PSALM 107 – 109
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