Apple Picking

Everyone has heard the quote "You know a tree by its fruit". I wonder if everyone knows it comes from the Bible?

"A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People do not gather figs from thorn bushes and they do not get grapes from bushes. Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts . People speak the things that are in their hearts." Luke 6:43-45 (NCV)

Ever been apple picking? I love apple picking, all the different types of apples to choose & taste. Lots of things you can do with apples: pies, tarts, crisps, candies, sauces.....hey or just eat them the way the Lord gave them to you- right off the tree.

Another thing about apple picking is that many people pick apples from the same tree. You don't know who was there before & you won't know who is there after---and while you are picking from a tree--sometimes someone is picking from the same tree--and sometimes not. All this gets me thinking.....If a tree is known by its fruit...........what about the seed that was sown?

The Lord was talking about us in those trees. We will be known by our fruit. People pass by the trees that have rotten apples.....sour apples are not that popular, unless of course you want them in a pie & then you have to sweeten them up to use them for anyone to enjoy. Bland apples (yes there are some) or dry apples--not many people like them.....The majority of people like a sweet juicy apple that they can pick right from the tree and eat......well, for that apple to be good & the tree to be good, the seed planted must be good too.....

You never know what seeds you are planting in someone if you are not careful. If your tree is full of bitter, angry, hateful, unforgiving, miserable fruit and people are picking from your tree----what are they getting? Bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, misery......................And that seed that you are planting.....that tree will bear the fruit of the sower---the Bible says so....

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

"The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:8 (NIV)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

We reap what we sow. If we sow hatred and bitterness--anger and unforgiveness--dissension and gossip---rumors and cheating---what do you think you will reap? When people pick fruit from your tree what will they get?

If you sow a good seed----love, joy, forgiveness, peace.....what do you think you will reap?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22 -23 (NIV).

It's all in our fruit---and people who pick from our tree take from the seed planted deep within our hearts....You don't want people picking poison apples right? So don't plant poison seeds---in yourself or others......

You just never know who might be picking from your tree.....