Rotten Fruit

I love God's Word. The Proverbs are so full of wisdom. I discover something new everytime I read the Bible. I love what verse 33 says....."Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." God promises us if we will just listen to Him then we will not have to worry at night when we lay our heads down to rest or any other time for that matter. It's like the trust of a child, the feeling of safety that comes from knowing their Daddy will keep them safe from harm. But if we do not choose wisdom and fear the LORD then we will be subject to eating the fruit of our ways and our schemes. Something tells me that fruit is rotten and bitter.
I also love how God uses everyday things to get His point across. There are a few more references to fruit. Psalm 1-" Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked ! They are like chaff that the wiind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish."
I heard a sermon on this passage a long time ago and the Minister that delivered that message pointed out the progression of how people get "sucked in" to the evil ways and plans of others.
First they walk in the counsel of the wicked, next thing you know they are standing and listening to the ways of the wicked and before long they become so comfortable with the ways of the wicked that they end up having a seat, in the seat of mockers. We must be careful that we do not let the enemy so deceive us.
Another reference to fruit and probably the most familiar is in Matthew 7: 15-20 - "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
I think all I will say about this passage is : What kind of fruit are you bearing ? LORD help us to bear good fruit !
This next passage is about the best fruit of all. Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
This of course is good fruit. Let us all be careful that we always seek the LORD in everything we do. We must bear good fruit, not bad fruit or we may end up eating our own rotten fruit !
Blessings,