The Fruit Takes on the Nature of the Root

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
Matthew 3:8 (NLT)

The message of John the Baptist was a harsh one.  He preached repentance to a people who didn’t think they needed to change.  After all, God called the Jews to be His people, a chosen nation; from what did they need to repent?  Yet, John would use the very law God had given this chosen people to confront them with how far they had departed from it.  He proclaimed, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” (Matthew 3:8, NLT) When the people heard the message and realized how far they fell short and how badly they needed to repent, countless numbers began to repent and be baptized as an expression of the change they were making in their hearts. 

Jesus preached a similar message of repentance but went beyond the law, focusing on new life!  His message was not merely a turning from sin, but a turning to Him to receive that life!  John’s disciples had the right start but needed to take the next step. They needed to trust in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior from sin so they may live with a new quality of life that would enable them to be free from the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that had kept them bound. Have you taken that step?  Whenever someone responded to the invitation of Jesus and truly repented, it’s amazing how quickly they made changes in their lives that reflected their commitment to Christ. Matthew and Zacchaeus were two examples in Matthew 9 and Luke 19.  You may want to take a moment to review their stories. Both illustrate that when the heart is right, the hand is swift to do the right thing.  What is interesting to me is that nowhere in the biblical narrative does Jesus make a demand for such changes.  Each responded with radical changes as a result of encountering Jesus’ unconditional love and acceptance! It was a natural expression of their new life.   

What changes has knowing Christ made in your own life?  In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concludes with the real evidence that proves our faith is real and genuine. He said, in Matthew 7, verses 16 and 20, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” In other words, the fruit takes on the nature of the root!  When we are rooted in Christ, we bear the fruit of Christlike character. Sometimes the decision to follow Christ requires difficult and painful choices to leave behind things that would keep us from Him.  It could be a business or even relationships that are unhealthy. For those who made such changes in the New Testament, the emphasis was not so much on what they may have given up as it was on what they gained in following Jesus!  Forgiveness! A fresh start!  A clean conscience! An intimate and personal relationship of unconditional love with Jesus!  A new life! That new life produces good fruit!

Are you trying to hold on to your old life?  You can’t experience all God has for you until you let go and receive His life. It will become obvious by the way you live that you’ve experienced a changed life!   

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.