“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
—Matthew 12:33-37

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
—James 3:17-18

“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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
—John 15:5-8

~~~~~

When a Tree Is Good
By Jennifer Kane

In the orchard we call humanity,
every soul is rooted somewhere—
and the fruit tells the truth.

A tree is known
not by the shape of its leaves,
nor the strength of its branches,
but by what it gives.

Some bear thorns behind a veil of green,
offering smooth words that cut
and fruit that deceives.
For out of the overflow of the heart,
the mouth speaks—
and every careless word
hangs like bitter fruit,
waiting for the day of harvest.

But when a tree is good—
you know.
Its fruit is peaceable, gentle,
full of mercy and good fruit,
unwavering, without hypocrisy.
It speaks life,
sows righteousness,
and yields peace
for those who make peace.

A good tree abides—
not in its own strength,
but in the Vine.
“I am the vine,
you are the branches,”
He said.
And those who remain in Him
bear much fruit.
Not by force—
but by faith.

Such a tree doesn’t strive to impress—
it simply lives,
rooted in love,
pruned by truth,
watered by grace.

And when the Gardener comes—
and He will—
He will not ask for leaves,
nor loud declarations,
but fruit.

So let the heart be known
by what the tongue reveals.
Let the root be tested
by the yield of the soul.

For in this orchard,
the trees are many,
but the fruit—
the fruit reveals all.

~~~~~

Scripture: Matthew 12:33-37, James 3:17–18, John 15:5-8

We’ve all seen it—trees that blossom with green leaves but bear no fruit. Maybe it’s been pruned poorly, or maybe the roots are sick. Outwardly, it might look healthy, but when harvest season comes, the truth is revealed.

This is how God sees us. Not by our leaves, but by our fruit.

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” That relationship is not symbolic; it’s vital. If a branch is connected to the vine, fruit will grow. That’s not a suggestion—it’s a promise. But if the branch is cut off, it withers. Its future isn’t pruning or healing—it’s fire.

When we come to Jesus—truly abide in Him—He doesn’t just staple on plastic fruit to make us look holy. He transforms the very nature of our tree. A bad tree becomes a good one. A selfish heart becomes a merciful one. An anxious soul becomes gentle and peaceable. And how do we know the tree has changed?

Look for the fruit.

James gives us a beautiful picture of that fruit: heavenly wisdom that’s pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality or hypocrisy. This kind of wisdom doesn’t grow from striving. It sprouts from abiding. It’s not the product of intellect or effort—it’s the natural outflow of life connected to the Vine.

Just as a seed must be planted in good soil, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. When we yield ourselves to God—not only in moments of worship, but in how we speak, serve, forgive, and love—He produces something eternal through us.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your life has changed, whether you’re truly abiding, don’t ask, “Do I feel close to Jesus?” Ask, “Is there fruit?” Is my life marked by peace? By mercy? By a willingness to yield when I could fight? Am I becoming more like the Vine to which I’m connected?

Because when the tree turns good, it will bear good fruit.

~~~~~

Lord Jesus, You are the vine and I am the branch. I want to abide in You. Transform my heart so fully that I don’t have to fake the fruit—I simply bear it. Prune what needs pruning. Heal what needs healing. And make me, in Your mercy, a good tree bearing good fruit. Thank you God for making me into a good tree, Amen.

April 10 2025