¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 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.

Matthew 7:15-20

Dear God, my temptation is to start by labeling people I know, either through mass media (politicians, celebrity pastors, movie stars, etc.) or in person who are the wolves disguised as sheep, and I do think that’s important. We do need to decide to whom we should listen by looking at the fruit of their lives. It’s definitely something to keep in mind as I allow others to influence me.

However, I think one big lesson from this is that I need to be very attentive to what I am doing in my own life to develop fruit that makes me a useful person to you. Am I producing good fruit or bad fruit? Am I a source of love, encouragement, and guiding people to be reconciled to you through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? Am I spouting bad theology? Do my words or actions lead others astray? Am I loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and in control of myself? Do I weed the soil of my heart to get rid of the thorns that are the pursuit of selfishness/wealth and the cares of this world? Do I listen to good teaching? Can I discern good teaching from bad? Can I hear your Holy Spirit–your still small voice?

Father, help me to cultivate my heart to be a good representative of you. Help me to know and speak your truth to others. Help me to discern when others are producing bad fruit and heresy. Help me to know your voice and reject anything that is not your voice. Forgive me for my sin. Forgive me for not forgiving others. Help me to forgive others. I do not want anything to take away from my worship of you, including whatever rights I might feel like I have to my pain.

I offer this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen