Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18 NIV)
Imagine two full grown trees.
Both are planted beside a body of water – let’s say a river. Both have roots that grow deep into the ground. Both have survived many years of storms and other events in their area. Both are places that a variety of animals gather, either to make their homes or to just use the tree’s fruit or shade.
But they do not produce the same fruit.
One tree is planted beside a beautiful, pure, and clear river, and it produces fruit that is both delicious and nourishing. The other tree grows next to a dirty, polluted river and, while its fruit may be flavorful, it is not healthy. Many people eat fruit from both trees, but only the first tree provides a meal that truly nourishes and benefits them.
The writer of Psalm 1 used the image of a tree to describe what happens to a man or woman who is rooted in the river of God’s righteousness and doesn’t drink from the polluted waters of wickedness.
What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,” meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked. They are like chaff blown away by the wind. The wicked will not endure the day of judgment, for God will not defend them. Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long, for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous! The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward while the way of the wicked leads only to doom. (TPT)
In this Psalm we see a distinct difference between the “righteous” and the “wicked,” just like those two imaginary trees have distinctly different fruit. The righteous person delights to follow God. The righteous one doesn’t walk with wickedness or sin or scorn, but remains true revelation of the Word of God. The righteous one bears fruit in every season of life, never dry or fainting, and is blessed and prosperous. Unlike the wicked whose deeds don’t succeed or endure for long, the righteous finds that God embraces their paths as they move forward.
Why does this matter? Because the “fruit” of our lives matters. Jesus told us that, Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18 NIV) Paul told the Colossians to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work…” (Colossians 1:10 AMP). A good person bearing good life-fruit lives in a manner worthy of the Lord. We display good character, courage, and integrity, bearing good fruit in everything we do so that we please God. Our lives exhibit the Spirit’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control, but also humility, justice, hope, and grace.
Today, may we be people whose roots go down deeply into the River of God. May our lives be pure and holy as we are fed by his Word and Spirit. May we delight to live lives that follow his ways. And may the fruit of our lives show the Light, Love, and Blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.
For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light. (Colossians 1:9-12 AMP)