How strong is your connection? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our ReFormation series with a message from the Sermon On the Mount.
Matthew 7:16-17
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.
Jesus addresses his followers, reassuring them that a person’s life will always bear fruit in keeping with who they truly are. If we can discern well, we can trust well.
1) Fruit takes time to form.
In time, most things will become plain to see. It is not our job to rush to judgment, or to point the finger at everyone else. It is a small man or woman whose validation is built on the faults of others.
2) Fruit doesn’t come from effort, it comes from connection.
You can’t speed fruit up or scale it up. Fruit is produced because of a connection to life and nourishment.
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
It is possible to be involved in the WORK (Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophecy in your name?) but not have fruit from CONNECTION (I never knew you).
3) It’s the root that makes the fruit.
Every other religious or cultural approach outside of Christianity is built on the idea that if we try hard enough we can get better. But if the root is bad, the fruit will still be bad. Christianity is built on the grace of God in Christ that transforms us from the inside out, giving us a NEW ROOT to produce GOOD FRUIT!
