Sunday, August 12, 2012

The fruit is proof

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." (Matt 7:19-20)

It is so commonly known that we as Christians should not judge. But that statement is so often taken out of context. The scriptures says for us to judge but to do it with the right motive. Jesus was often judging the teachers of the law, but he was doing it with love.

"Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously." (John 7:24 AMP)

This scriptures says for us to not decide at a glance. However, the ongoing lifestyle a person leads can be a good gage to know if a person is living a life that is pleasing to the Lord. We all mess up and have bad habits that needs to be changed but are we striving to change them?

God is the only one who knows a persons heart thoroughly. Take a look at David. A king who was an adulterous, a murderer, one who indulged with fornication with many wives regardless of the culture, and he was prideful in his counting of his army. But God says that he was a man after My own heart! (Acts 13:22) David lived with the desire of always pleasing God at the forefront of his mind even though he would slip up here and there. One might look at his falls and say he isn't a christain, but the fact is He truly loved God!

You can take a look at the pharasees and say, they look very righteous and full of knowledge of God. But their eternal home will be in hell! "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, 'shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matt 7:21-23)

"He who does the will of my Father" - The will of the Father always without fail is... MERCY, REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS. It is to Love God first, then Love others as yourself! (Matt 22:36-40)

"I never knew you" - See, it isn't that we know God. Does God know us? when I first gave my life to Jesus, I said that I came looking for God and I found Him, but that isn't the truth. We don't go looking for God and we don't find Him. It is US who is lost! It is HE who finds us! I felt like I was searching for Him but the truth is, He was putting that desire in me and drawing me to Himself!

Satan and all his angels knows God, but He is far from them! Are you close to God because He knows you? The question is do you have a desire in your heart to live a life that is pleasing to God or is it pleasing to man and yourself?


-Doug McGowan

No comments:

Post a Comment