April 19th, 2023
Wednesday, April 19
Fruit Impressions
By: Pastor Shane Beauvais
One Sunday after church, a little girl approached her father and asked, “Daddy, what is a Christian?”
“Well,” her father said, “Christians are those who practice and follow the Way of a Jesus Christ and know Him as Savior. They love God with their whole heart and their neighbor as themselves. They are kind and humble and will apologize should disagreements arise. In a world that seeks revenge, Christians show grace and mercy. Most importantly, their actions mirror their words.”
Perplexed by her father’s description, she asked….”Daddy, have we ever seen a Christian?”
This short story is fictional. However, it raises a great question.
Do our actions prove our authenticity? It is easy to look authentic at first glance. However, the fruit will always reveal the truth when examined more closely.
In the unsettling story of Jesus cursing the fig tree narrated in the Gospels (Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14, 20–25), Jesus addresses this discrepancy. This inverted miracle illustrates the stakes of failing to bear the fruit one would expect from a tree of its kind.
Somewhere on the road between Bethany and Jerusalem, Jesus approached this fig tree hoping to satisfy his hunger (v. 18). Somewhere in our context, there are people in our community, in your Oikos, in your workplace, who examine more closely the fruit that you should bear.
Do your “fruit” impressions match your actions? Do we live what we preach? Do we practice what we desperately want the next generation to live out? It is easy to look authentic at first glance. However, the fruit will always reveal the truth when examined more closely.
Jesus, may we always bear the fruit that YOU would expect from a tree of this kind.
Fruit Impressions
By: Pastor Shane Beauvais
One Sunday after church, a little girl approached her father and asked, “Daddy, what is a Christian?”
“Well,” her father said, “Christians are those who practice and follow the Way of a Jesus Christ and know Him as Savior. They love God with their whole heart and their neighbor as themselves. They are kind and humble and will apologize should disagreements arise. In a world that seeks revenge, Christians show grace and mercy. Most importantly, their actions mirror their words.”
Perplexed by her father’s description, she asked….”Daddy, have we ever seen a Christian?”
This short story is fictional. However, it raises a great question.
Do our actions prove our authenticity? It is easy to look authentic at first glance. However, the fruit will always reveal the truth when examined more closely.
In the unsettling story of Jesus cursing the fig tree narrated in the Gospels (Matthew 21:18–22; Mark 11:12–14, 20–25), Jesus addresses this discrepancy. This inverted miracle illustrates the stakes of failing to bear the fruit one would expect from a tree of its kind.
Somewhere on the road between Bethany and Jerusalem, Jesus approached this fig tree hoping to satisfy his hunger (v. 18). Somewhere in our context, there are people in our community, in your Oikos, in your workplace, who examine more closely the fruit that you should bear.
Do your “fruit” impressions match your actions? Do we live what we preach? Do we practice what we desperately want the next generation to live out? It is easy to look authentic at first glance. However, the fruit will always reveal the truth when examined more closely.
Jesus, may we always bear the fruit that YOU would expect from a tree of this kind.
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2023
January
Daily PowerOur Heart MusclesBlessing Our NeighborsStay in the FightTime to ChangeWell, this is Practical!Keep it to YourselfHumility in FastingSupernatural WisdomMore of YouThese Crazy PeopleCrazy PeopleConvictionOverwhelmedAs Legitimate as Porcelain PieHunger For MoreLove the LightA Fulfillment that DeliversSatisfactionContent With What IsHow Great is Our GodEnough
February
The Goodness of GodDaring God's GoodnessParadox of GraceThe God Who Knows It AllDo Good for the Right ReasonsLet Down Your NetWhy Not Me?His Gift is FreeIntegrity Matters to GodThe Gate is NarrowDoes the End Justify the Means?Point to HimWhat is Right is Not Always EasyDying to SelfPricelessAwake, Sleeper!Sunday BurnMake Me HolyAbove All Else Put On LoveSearch Me, Lord
March
Turning EvilForgive But Not Forget?You Can Only Love God As Much...It's Not All About YouOpen HandsAre we giving God what is rightfully His?A Cheerful GiverGod is Pretty SpecificThe Known GodHumble, Not ProudJesus Changes EverythingIt is DifferentCut Me Some SlackFully KnownGood at ExhortationQuenching the SpiritGrace and TruthLife is Not FairGet Back Up AgainAllowancesOrdinary PeopleAt The Feet of JesusThe Throne of Grace
April
Hosanna!The Last StrawEyes Wide OpenSunday's ComingStay the CourseNot EnoughSpeaking BoldlyJesus is AliveDeath's StingEyes to SeeUninvitedThey're Always Together!Fruit ImpressionsToo Many TabsMessy GraceNoticed the UnnoticeableThree PromisesMutually EncouragedLife is not TriedPatiently, With Confidence
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