I Am Rotten At Tomatoes

A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by
their fruits.Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the
one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.( Mt 7: 18-21) (ESV)


Over the last several years I have enjoyed learning to develop a vegetable garden. I have met with some success but still have a lot to learn. One thing I have learned is I am rotten at growing
tomatoes. The first year, I got a few to grow, but the birds ate them. The second year, the plants I bought were unknowingly of a variety that I was not familiar, and they were purple, not very tasty, and very small. This year, I've had a little more success, but they are few in number, pale in color, and questionable in taste.

There is a lot that has to be done right to bear good fruit. Jesus is starting to wrap up this famous Sermon on the Mount and challenges his disciples, then and now, to be known by bearing good fruit for the Kingdom of God. To not bear good fruit is to miss out on what it means to be a part of the Kingdom. Bearing good fruit happens when we not only hear His words but live by them. Just calling Him Lord will not get it done. Living like He is Lord and doing what He says is how we bear good fruit.

Shepherd Lilley leads a Small Group here at Opendoor that is centered around gardening. She
has become my go-to person with my tomato issues. I have not made her proud of my
gardening yet (my words not hers), but whenever I have a question, she gives me a good
suggestion on what to do. Every time I do what she says, I get a little closer to bearing the
desired fruit that is intended on my vines. If I continue to do as she says, I will eventually bear
good tomatoes; I am sure of it.

Are you bearing good fruit for the Kingdom of God? Are you doing your part to answer Jesus’
prayer for the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven? If you are, it is because you are
being obedient to His Word. Keep on planting and bearing. If you are not, then go back to His
Word and be an obedient servant and the good fruit will come. I am sure of it.

Don’t be a rotten tomato! Bear good fruit for the KIngdom.

Prayer: Teach me, Lord, how to be obedient to Your Word. Allow me the privilege of bearing good fruit for Your Kingdom. Amen.

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