Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, February 5, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
At first glance, this text may look like a proclamation that some people are good and some are bad. But I challenge you to resist the temptation to label people as such. Is the best among us without flaw or failure? Is the worst of us without a measure of redemption?
No, this text is about you. And me. This text is about how we build a foundation for our lives that helps us become that which produces good fruit.
As a young girl, I often found myself swept up in the excitement and sense of power that came with gossip. It was thrilling to tell another something that only I knew. It felt invigorating to put someone else down and lift myself above them. But the momentary feeling of superiority quickly turned to regret when I started to realize the damage I was inflicting. I spent years building a habit of protecting the privacy of others and holding their truths with honor and respect. The outcome has been remarkable. People trust me with their secrets because I have earned the privilege of their trust. More often than not, I have been able to help people through some pretty difficult situations because they knew my words were candid and respectful.
I built that privilege of trust over years. I cultivated a foundation within myself that allowed me to hold those privacies now without much effort. The fruit of my labors has far outweighed the momentary pleasures and ultimate regret of betraying trust.
Jesus asks us to cultivate within ourselves a foundation of honor, honesty, faith, compassion, justice, and love so that we produce fruits worthy of him.
What will you work on cultivating today?
