Psalms 119: 105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
I have been reading in Matthew during my quiet times and have been amazed how scripture reflects situations in my own personal life.
Recently someone in my life wanted to end our seven year friendship due to a conversation we had about life choices. I expressed my concern and worry for some of the things I observed in her life- as I had made similar mistakes in the past that led to a dangerous place for me and did not want her to end up where I did. I intended this conversation for positive- however it did not come across that way to her. She felt as though I was judging and condemning her- looking down on her for they way she chooses to live.
In reading Matthew, this dear friend was on my mind when I read Matt 7: 1-2 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." I see how she was upset because of the challenging nature of where our lives have taken us. We both have grown in different ways over the past few years... But we both claim Christianity as our faith and Jesus Christ as our Savior. How could two people who claim to share the same core beliefs- make such DRASTICLY different choices?
My answer came as I continued to read in Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." and AGAIN in Matthew 12: 33-37: " 33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Does your life reflect what you claim to believe? I am not the judge and jury regarding ANYONE'S behavior or life, but God is. He even sees beyond our actions and into our hearts. I have to wonder, if our actions do not show honor to God and we are blatently obvious in those actions- then what does that say about our hearts?
We should not live to please others. This is clear as stated in Galatians 1:10: "10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant."
However, we are called to live in a way that honors God. We make mistakes and we sin- because we are not perfect. I know this situation and scripture has caused me to pray over some habits and things in my own life. I hope that you, whoever you may be, will question for yourself, what does MY life's fruit show about my heart?
