It’s what you expect.
The way people talk about others says much about their judgement of them. A scandal emerges about an individual, and the buzz is that you’d expect that from that individual. A crime occurs, and an individual is “brought in for questioning”, and the message goes around that you’d expect that from the individual.
The judgement is that because the individual gives those impressions based on their perception, the results are to be expected. The process itself isn’t unreasonable – bad things come from a perceived bad person. In fact, Jesus says the same thing about people – you don’t expect good fruit from bad trees or bad fruit from good trees. While we nod with Jesus, expecting him to be backing our take on the individual, what we don’t realise is that He’s saying something about us – and it’s not good.
It should lead to a sober reflection about the state of us that we’re quick to condemn, smear, and character assassinate whilst having little time to reflect on our own conduct. It should lead to a return to what Jesus marks as the character of the blessed man. The blessed man knows that if anyone should be judged and condemned, it should be him – there’s nothing good about him, he acknowledges his total spiritual bankruptcy, he’s upset about it, and so he turns in need to the one who is truly good and appeals for mercy, forgiveness and cleansing.
This activity isn’t on a one-off basis, either. This blessed man understands that the purified basis is totally dependent on Someone else. Depending on Someone else to be spiritually enriched. Depending on Someone else to receive forgiveness and mercy. Depending on Someone else defines this man’s life.
That dependency, however, also leads to something more. This life of total dependency sees this man producing a life in line with the Someone they depend on. Receiving mercy, righteousness, peace, and joy leads to the individual producing mercy, righteousness, peace and joy. The level of appreciation in being the recipient of such goods enables, encourages, equips and empowers those who receive to be generous givers.
That kind of life is evidence – the fruit, if you will – that someone does not follow the world’s ways. The will of the world does not form them. They don’t function by the values of the world. They demonstrate that they don’t belong to the world as others do and don’t rely on the world as many do. Their citizenship reflects the one they are totally dependent on.
If your life is founded on the Lord Jesus Christ and formed by God’s good, perfect and acceptable will, enabling you to function by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, then you will be productive – you’ll be fruitful.
When He looks for faith in the earth, He will see men and women choosing grace and forgiveness rather than a grudge and being malicious. He will see men and women choosing hope and joy over misery and grousing. He will see men and women encouraging and supporting rather than condemning and smearing. He will see men and women pursuing righteousness and peace rather than selfish ambition and pride. It’s His idea of what it is to be fruitful; His character is displayed with the following results. He will see these things because it’s what He expects.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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