February 17

“You will know them from their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles?”

The Bible tells us not to judge others. Still, we lock in on a disagreeable incident, action or accusation and scurry about for a couple of stones to throw. But the Bible also tells us that people are not the sums of their failures and/or successes. And, as much as we’d love, like, want or desire to predict the losers and winners – that isn’t going to happen either. So we, as Christians, are going to have to be a patient lot. That means prayer. It also demands that we must constantly weigh the yield and sample the fruits of that which we hold dear. We must make sure that we hold nothing sacred above God.

DEAR LORD, HELP US NOT TO TAKE COMFORT IN OUR OWN LAZINESS. OPEN OUR EYES, MINDS, AND HEARTS, THAT WE MAY BE RECEPTIVE TO YOUR INSTRUCTION. LET OUR ACTIONS BE YOUR ACTIONS, OUR HARVESTS BE YOUR BOUNTY. PLEASE, GOD, PROTECT US FROM FALSE PROPHETS THAT THEIR HARVESTS ARE MADE APPARENT TO US. AMEN.

-Shared by David Hallaway