Wednesday 10/10/12

Matthew 7:16-18, 20 ESV

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... Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

How can we differentiate a true sheep and a wolf in sheep clothing? They all appear pure, harmless and good. How can we see through all the clever deceptions and rationalizations? They all look good and sound reasonable.

By checking the fruit they bring forth - the effect & the result of their work, we will recognize them. If they bring forth fruit of the Holy Spirit in themselves & inspire others - love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, kindness, faithfulness, self control - they are of God. If they bring forth evil fruit (contention, strife, hedonistic, quarreling...), they are wolves in sheep clothing. By their fruit we shall see if they are of God, or wolves in sheep clothing.