Lent-Day 8
Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
2/25/10-Day 8
Listening to the Sermon on the Plane: Part 7
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. – Luke 6:43-45 (NRSV)
“What kind of tree are you?”, this sounds like a mindless interview question that we might see directed to a someone on a news magazine show, but today it is our gateway into the gospel. I know a lot of “Christians” who you would never suspect by looking at the relationships in their lives. From the perspective of anyone on the outside looking in these people look no different from anyone else. This should not be! People are watching us to see what it means to be a Christian.
One Sunday I was driving to a new appointment for the first Sunday as the new pastor. I was equal parts enjoying the countryside and looking for my turn and was likely going just a little under the posted speed limit. As I was driving a car pulled up behind me only to sling around me and zoom past. While passing me, the driver greeted me with a one finger West Georgia wave. I don’t know who was more embarrassed a few seconds later when I pulled in next to them in the churchyard. Now that was an interesting appointment!
Today we consider the fruits that we produce thought the words we speak. Are we a people of curses or blessings? Do we respond to others in anger or open curiosity? Do people smile when they see us coming or do they divert their eyes and cross the street? Can we have a transformative encounter with God and continue to live life unchanged and unaffected? Do we speak as though Christ were a party to every conversation? What would your friends and neighbors say about your relationship with Christ?
What kind of tree are you? – Rev. John Mattox
Lord,
Clean our hearts.
We know that sometimes we can become weighed down by life
and find ourselves in moments where it becomes easy to show “bad fruit”.
As we drive down life’s highways, help us to be filled with the fruits of your Spirit, so that when difficult times come,
We will show love, joy, peace and faith instead.
Amen. – Rev. Katie Mattox
