Good Fruit In Us

A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. —Matthew 7:17-20 NLT

The last we left off, there was a fallen king of Judah who’s mother killed off all the king’s descendants in an attempt to make herself the queen. She was successful in her endeavors and, being a very destructive person, she wreaked havoc in Judah during her short-lived reign as queen. This queen attempted to lead the people of Judah further and further away from God. So how was Judah able to be restored from this evil? We have spoken a lot about how evil-minded people negatively affect a person’s decisions (even the decisions of kings). Today, let’s look at the influence a more well-meaning person can have when placed in the same predicament.

The throne had been taken by this wicked queen, but what she did not know was that her sister had taken away one of the king’s newborn sons and kept him safe, away from the queen’s wrath. The boy’s name was Joash. He was hidden away in the Temple for six years until, one day, the priest could not take it anymore—the queen was wreaking havoc in the land. So the priest gathered some men to guard the Temple. Then, they held a coronation ceremony to ordain Joash, the young boy, as king. When the queen came to see what all the commotion was about, she was removed from the premises and her life was taken. Coming after two kings and a queen who erected idol altars and led the people away from God, King Joash handled things differently in his forty year reign as the king of Judah. The priest who had kept him hidden as a youth also had taken special interest in teaching Joash about God. 2 Kings 12:2 says, “All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” This is a stark contrast in comparison to the past couple of kings of Judah who were advised by people who ultimately led them to their destruction.

Life is going to continuously lead you to places of influence, where the decisions you make will impact lives—and sometimes even the livelihood—or well being of others. We see this happening on macro levels, in our government, world leadership, etc. However, it also happens daily on micro levels in your life, my life, and all throughout the world. Let us be conscious about who we listen to. It’s important to be careful and conscious concerning who we allow ourselves to be advised and influenced by. They say whether we are aware of it or not, we are the average of the top five people we surround ourselves with the most. A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. Let us do our due diligence to surround ourselves with those who produce good fruit in us. 

Lots of Love, XO