Matthew 12:31-33, 43-50 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 12:31-33, 43-50 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Verse 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Verse 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. Verse 43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Verse 44Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Verse 45Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation."
Verse 46While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Verse 47Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." Verse 48But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Verse 49And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Verse 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Devotion
When we moved into our new (to us) parsonage in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1965, there was an unfamiliar tree near the back fence. About 8 feet tall, it appeared to be a fruit tree; verified when blossoms appeared and miniature plum-like fruits followed. Fuzzy and yellow, they looked like apricots. Assuming them not to be poisonous I tried one. My taste buds said, "Not an apricot." A helpful neighbor said, "Oh, that's either a kumquat or a loquat. They make great jams." Finally, The tree was identified! The fruit let us know the tree specie.
Jesus insisted that the same holds for us. People may look at each of us and quickly determine our essential make-up, our "spiritual specie," by that which falls from our branches. The promise of Jesus is that those who are grafted by faith and trust into him bear fruit that is good for all and help feed a world hungry for good news!
Prayer
O Lord, when we have been grafted into you, help us grow and bear good fruit for the world around us. Amen.