Matthew 12:33–37 (ESV)
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when
you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I
tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Have you ever wondered whether someone is a Christian or not? I will tell you that such questioning can lead you into a lot of trouble. For no one knows your heart like God. This
is true! But we should be able to tell whether a person is a Christian by what comes out of the mouth and by their actions. These testify to our faith. I think of the James passage that says “faith without works is dead.”
I pray: O Lord, help my heart to proclaim praise with my mouth and my heart reach out to help others through action. While we are justified by faith alone,
help us to let our faith produce good works. Amen.