God’s providential care

 

Matthew 7:16-18  You will recognise them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, 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.

Again in this passage Jesus uses themes from nature to explain a significant point in his teaching.

Our digital world is awash with instant gurus, guaranteeing all sorts of instant solutions in cleverly scripted soundbites. I think that Jesus is encouraging his hearers to look below the attractive surface of such proponents to examine the fruits rather than the promises.

This passage evokes the parable of the fig tree which had borne no fruit. The owner of the tree orders the gardener to cut it down. However, the gardener pleads for another year of tending and fertilising the tree and the owner agrees. However, borrowed time is not permanent. We do not know how much time each of us has left in life. We pray for the grace of a sense of urgency.

Perhaps we have never needed the warning about false prophets as much as we do today, when the internet and social media so often presents us with many untruths. We can judge false prophets by the result of their words. If their words result in peace and love, we can believe them. If the result in hate, anger and criticism, we need to receive them with caution. 

Saint Paul wrote of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22–23) when he lists love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as evidence of God’s work. With God, I review these characteristics, giving thanks for where I find them present, asking for their strengthening and seeing how I am invited to fill out the character of my discipleship.

Dear Lord, I pray today to ask for help. Help me to have the actions, words, and wisdom necessary to bear good fruit. May the things I think, the things I say, and the deeds I do show other people the love of Christ. Help me to be a force for good, and an influence on others. Amen.