ROOTED - Friday, June 5, 2026
Matthew 7:16-19
31 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered
from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every
healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A
healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good
fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you
will recognize them by their fruits.
Reflection: Internal Righteousness, and Fruit!
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
We lived in Greensboro, NC when I got into
gardening. We were renting a house and looking to buy a home. With this in mind,
I did not want to invest time and effort into a garden planted in the yard,
lest I buy a house in the middle of the gardening season. So, I bought about 30
5-gallon buckets, a bunch of soil, and planted tomatoes, yellow squash and
zucchini (all from seed). After they were big enough, I planted them in those
ugly buckets. The plants took off, and within a few short weeks I was enjoying
the fruit of my labor… and plenty of Purple Cherokee, Yellow Stripey, and Black
Krim tomatoes (all wonderful heirloom tomatoes). As it turns out, good soil,
appropriate water, great sun, and good advice from friends… all gave me plenty
of fruit. Furthermore, as expected, Brandywine plants produced Brandywine
tomatoes. It was, in hindsight, the best “garden” I ever planted.
This is true in the spiritual life, as well. Per yesterday’s Rooted,
the spiritual life that is healthy is a transformation that starts from the inside
and comes out. Jesus’ favorite analogy for this reality is “fruit.” Good trees
produce good fruit and vice versa. Apple trees produce apples. A good heart
produces good fruit.
One day I noticed an awfully big zucchini. I kept an eye on it,
only to notice that the vines were especially aggressive meandering to and fro,
all over the place. As it grew, I realized that this was not a zucchini at all…
I had a big melon on my hands. It turns out that melon seeds look a lot like
zucchini seeds… and melon seeds never produce zucchinis! A melon seed, somehow,
made its way into my bag of zucchini seeds. It also turns out that in order to
grow melons (tricky as they are), you need to have an expert (at least a
competent) “green thumb.” Make of that what you will 😊
Lord God, help us to become like you, and produce fruit consistent
with the Holy Spirit’s work in us.