Tuesday November 22, 2022

Today is Tuesday, November 22 and this week we complete our study of the Sermon on the Mount.

As I enter this time of prayer, I still my body, quiet my mind and slow my breathing. I close my eyes and relax in the presence of the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, I long for You to speak into my life and circumstances. Give me ears to listen and eyes to see the good message You have for me today as I study the holy scriptures. Amen.

I praise God and worship Him with the opening words of Psalm 1.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Pause and Pray

In the last section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts between good and evil. I have many choices every moment of every day. I choose to enter through a narrow gate or a wide gate. I choose to follow the teachings of a true prophet or a false prophet. I choose to do God’s will as a faithful disciple or I choose to do my own will. I choose to build my life on a solid foundation, or I choose to build my life on a foundation of sand. I choose Jesus as the overarching authority in my life, or I choose something or someone else. In this section Jesus warns against false teachers who will attempt to lead the children of God astray.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus warns me to watch out for false prophets who like to deceive Christians. Corrupt leaders who appear harmless and mild as sheep but in reality, are dangerous wolves. This is the proverbial wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing. How will I be able to recognize false teachers in the church and prevent myself from following blindly? Jesus tells me I will recognize them by their fruit. A good tree will produce good fruit and a bad tree will produce bad fruit. Good fruit produced for the kingdom of God benefits the flock of the church. Good fruit is nourishing, wholesome, life-giving, strengthening, sustaining, sanctifying, honest, trustworthy, reliable, dependable, sound and true.

Ask: Am I equipped to identify the kingdom fruit provided by Christian leaders in my life? What kind of fruit do I observe around me?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for cautioning me against listening to false prophets or following false teachers. Give me discernment and wisdom to identify the good and faithful leaders You wish for me to support and emulate. Teach me to recognize good fruit and discover the blessed sweetness of spiritual grapes and figs that will strengthen me for the journey of faith. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me and record it in my journal, keeping in mind that God may speak to me later throughout my day. I want to gain awareness of the people God has put in my life that I am to learn from. Who comes to mind? I pray that God is the one who guides me in every choice – the podcasts I listen to, the books I read, the preachers or teachers I seek, and the posts I follow. What is the good fruit God has for me? What bad fruit am I to avoid?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, come and unmask any false or negative influences in my life. Let me clearly discern what is truth and what is not. Teach me to have a discerning spirit and a wise heart so I am prevented from being influenced by whatever is not of You. Expose the quality of other people’s fruit and enable me in turn to bear good and bounteous fruit in my life. Amen.

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:43-45

As I leave this time of prayer, I go into the world to bear good fruit for the kingdom of God.

Amen