The Good Tree and It's Fruit

Reflections: Today, throughout the readings, we see the metaphor of bearing fruit from the Vine. Israel in the Old Testament was meant to be the True Vine of God! As they listened to and obeyed God’s laws they would bear much fruit for the nations to see. The psalmist cries out to God to return to them. They were vines that were supposed to bear fruit, but were ravaged by wild animals and insects. The psalmist calls on the Lord to turn to the man on His right hand, the Son of Man He has raised up. (This is an allusion to the Messiah who would come to restore the Vineyard!)

In Deuteronomy, in similar fashion, the writer links the fruitfulness and provision of God for His people with their obedience to the commands God has given them through Moses. In verse 8 he links the observance of them to “having strength” to take the land God has promised to them. We see a connection between obedience to what God has called us to be, with what He promises to give us as we live and walk in faith in His promises. Then, in verse 18, he gives them a practical way to remember all God has commanded them. He tells them to fix the word on their hearts and minds, tie them on your hands, and bind them to your foreheads. He also urges them to frequently talk about them, when they lie down and get up; and when they walk along the road or are sitting at home. Can you see how much God wants His Word to part of our everyday lives and the center of our families? It is clear God is not just talking about observing, thinking about it on Sundays only.

Finally, Jesus picks up on this theme in the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6. He uses 3 metaphors to make his point about obedience to God’s Word. First, a student will become like his teacher when they are fully trained. This is the idea of discipleship, being trained by a mature disciple, so that you can be like them, as we all follow Christ, the ultimate disciple maker. Paul said this, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ!”(1 Corinthians 4:16) Secondly, Jesus uses the analogy of the “Good Tree”. The “Good Tree”, which is rooted in Him, cannot bear bad fruit. We don’t create fruit by ourselves, but we are a good tree as we are rooted in Christ. That is why it is only through having a relationship with Jesus that we can bear fruit that lasts. Lastly, he uses the analogy of house “built on a rock”, the rock being God’s Word. Specifically He says that those who hear His Word and put it into practice are like a house that when the rains come, that house stands firm because it has a firm foundation. Three analogies, but all coming to the same point! As we listen to and obey Jesus’ words to us through the power He gives us as His disciples, we will become what we were intended to be!

Where are you at in all of this? Are you bearing the fruit God intends for you as His follower? Are you building your house on the rock? Who is discipling you? Are you in training to be the man or woman Jesus called you to be? We need each other, we can’t do this alone! All of my major growth has come in relationship with others who have taken the time to invest in my growth as a follower of Christ! I am forever thankful for those people in my life! I hope I can be that for others too!

Psalm 80:12-19
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
15 the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Deuteronomy 11
8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land
that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9 and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. 12 It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. 13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul — 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— 23 then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. 24 Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. 25 No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.

Luke 6:39-49
39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 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.

The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord! Psalm 4:6 (NASB)

Christ says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Lord Jesus, keep us from stumbling in darkness when you are anxious to enlighten our paths every day. Thank you for this light! In your name we pray. Amen.