Month: July 2025

Too often, we encounter individuals who claim to be followers of Christ, yet their lifestyle reflects their old nature. Still, we often overlook this and accept their claims without examining their fruit. The goal is not to “doubt or question their faith.” Instead, it is to hold one another accountable as we walk out our Salvation. By pursuing Him, we can journey together with Him and fellow believers, which helps prevent us from becoming isolated. This companionship enables us to notice when we start to drift away from His path. Thus, accountability and discipleship play a crucial role in our journey in following Christ.

Tradition leads us to believe that Salvation is merely a result of our familial ties, good works, or inherited beliefs. Some believe that Salvation can be attained by memorizing scripture or by acting as an ‘armchair expert.’ Some view their family’s church as their path to Salvation. Others rely on their church membership. Meanwhile, some imitate someone who embodies their faith. When we care for others’ spiritual journey, we want them to find their place in the kingdom of God. This desire is based on the “unique individual” God created each of us to be! ( Jeremiah. 1:5) A longing for you to be a follower and not a pursuer of a false gospel.

The world claims this decision will damage your pride and reputation, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. Purpose is revealed in a manner that the world cannot satisfy. A veil is lifted from our eyes and allows us to see ( 2 Cor. 3:16-18).

Think about your walk and ask, “Are my actions clear that I am a follower of Christ? How about the way I talk, walk, act, and respond? Is my commitment obvious? Do others want to follow me because of ‘Who’ I reflect?” Remember, this question isn’t about adhering to religious obligations or customs. Rather, it focuses on a dedicated, evolving relationship! This shows the closeness of seeking Christ at a deeper level every day. If you find yourself uncertain, think about deciding to leave everything behind and choose to follow Him. If you haven’t done so already, begin your journey requires accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Here is a sample Salvation prayer. Recite this prayer aloud so you can hear it, visualize it, and articulate it. This ensures it becomes imprinted in your heart.

Salvation Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I come to you in the mighty name of Jesus. I confess that I am a sinner, and I repent of all my sins… Thank you for cleansing me through the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus is your Son. He died on the cross for my sins. He rose again. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins, and I invite you to dwell in my life. I accept you as my Lord and Savior and commit to following you all the days of my life. I choose to follow you from this day forth. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for adopting me as your (son or daughter). In Jesus’ name, Amen!

If you stated this prayer, I challenge you to tell someone. It’s by the confession of your mouth that you confirm to your heart, mind, and flesh. You are in Christ now, a new creation. Your old nature has passed away! A few scriptures to support the Salvation prayer: Acts 2:21, Romans 10:9-10, and Ephesians 1:13

Give the Holy Spirit access to your life. Pray: “Holy Spirit, I give you access to lead me in the way you want me to go. Teach me how to use the tools you’ve given me to complete your work here on earth. Help me to be patient, kind, and filled with your love, the fruits of your spirit and wisdom. Guide me, renew my mind, and empower me to live, see, and hear according to your will. I surrender all of me, and I submit to your Spirit. I thank you for the Gift of Your Spirit, Your discernment, and Your power. All for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A few Scriptures to support inviting the Holy Spirit into your heart: Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians. 1:21-22, Romans 8:9, and John 14:16-17.

As believers in Christ, it is crucial to recognize and embrace your identity and role within the kingdom of Heaven. When we wholeheartedly understand that we are genuinely a child of God, obeying Him becomes a lifelong adventure. Although it is not always easy, there exists a fulfilling purpose!

“O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good;
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8

The essence of taste influences what we crave, and that craving is the Word of God. God’s word nourishes our souls. It enhances our desire for Him. This happens through a process of engaging with His Word, presence, and action in our lives. It involves actively pursuing Him and allowing His goodness to fill our heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Consider this: when we follow Christ, the veil that obscured our vision is lifted.

This revelation enables us to see and appreciate the goodness of God. As we connect with Christ, we start to grasp His character, attributes, and faithfulness in a real and meaningful way.

The Lord is good: this encapsulates His fundamental message. He wants us to know and experience His goodness and to trust Him, especially in challenging times. For He is our refuge and strength. We should deepen our understanding of God. We also need to actively seek and experience His presence and goodness in our lives. Don’t focus on religion, church politics, protocol, law, or control. It’s about tasting, experiencing, seeing, duplicating, and manifesting the goodness of God. I challenge you to set aside any religious spirit or traditions. Exchange it all by taking up His cross. Follow Him!

“Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;” Hebrews 12:14-15

As we pursue cultivating good fruit in our lives, we must be cautious. Our internal root system shouldn’t be infected with fungi (bitterness). In the Bible, bitterness is portrayed as a profound resentment or unforgiveness. It also includes pride, rebellion, or anger. These emotions can adversely affect an individual’s spiritual well-being and relationships. These forms of bitterness listed above will, over time, poison your roots in your spiritual and then physical life. This makes it impossible for us to experience internal peace, let alone pursue peace with everyone, as scripture states.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. ³² Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” Eph. 4:31-32

Let’s examine the contrast between Fungi in the tree and the spiritual bitterness that resides in our hearts.

Fungi and bitterness share similarities due to their inherent characteristics, growth patterns, and possible impacts. Spiritual bitterness quietly takes root in the heart, gradually tainting one’s spirit. In a like manner, fungi within a tree thrive out of sight, often remaining undetected until their consequences are revealed. In both cases, the indicators are not readily apparent. Yet, they can emerge through their manifestation. They can also emerge through their conduct and physical results.

Spiritual bitterness thrives on old wounds. It feeds on feelings of injustice and negative thinking. This leads to an obsession with grievances and perpetuates resentment. Similarly, fungi on a tree serve as decomposes, flourishing on rotting roots and decomposing organic material.

Spiritual bitterness leads to harmful behaviors such as anger, malice, and slander. These behaviors impact not just the person but also their connections with others. This negativity creates a hardened heart that hinders their spirit. Similarly, fungi on a tree are recognized for their destructive nature and can cause diseases. The proliferation of these fungal infections can severely harm the root system.

Overcoming bitterness through our strength can be quite difficult. It demands a deliberate choice to forgive, release, and pursue healing.  This journey requires the transformative power of Jesus Christ. Similarly, just like a tree suffering from stubborn fungal infections, it requires external intervention. The infections are tough to eradicate and often need a steady and focused approach.

Cultivating harmony with others requires a mindset that is always prepared to forgive. Living a life of holiness before the Lord demands this mindset too. Although this is not an easy task, it is crucial. This requires obedience. It enables us to be open. We must be willing to accept correction. We should be obedient to the Holy Spirit. We also need to be attentive to God’s guidance. We can achieve this by choosing to see others through Christ’s perspective. This viewpoint empowers us to “bear” the fruit of peace. It guides us toward a life of righteousness (being in right standing with God). While it may not be straightforward, it is our responsibility to keep the roots far from us.

Christ desires for us to remove all traces of past and current bitterness or resentment. Traits of bitterness can be passed down from our lineage. During our formative years, we absorb our family’s customs and belief frameworks. We take in their views on others. We often adopt critical or judgmental attitudes. These suggest we are superior or better than others. This comes along with a sense of Pride.  If this holds true, we need to uncover the root “familiar spirit” in our lives. It ensnares us and pulls us back into our cycle of chaos. This occurrence is commonly known as a generational curse. Nevertheless, Christ aims to dig deep into the roots of our hearts and eradicate them entirely.

When we focus on Him, the Holy Spirit intervenes. He starts addressing the core of our hearts’ bitterness. This intervention leads us to freedom. Once revealed, we must be obedient throughout the process. With His help, this journey becomes possible to forgive and repent. We must allow Him to prune and mend our roots and hearts. Forgiveness and repentance are crucial for our complete healing and restoration. When we permit Christ to reach the root of our fruit, He cleanses it from its source. If we ignore this, the bitter fruit will continue to grow. We will spiritually decay before we know it. This is what robs us of our peace! Today, decide to no longer allow our bitterness to defile our fruits. Choose to embrace forgiveness and experience His genuine peace. Pause and Pray..

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:27

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/General_Biology_1e_(OpenStax)/5%3A_Biological_Diversity/24%3A_Fungi/24.1%3A_Characteristics_of_Fungi#:~:text=Fungi%20thrive%20in%20environments%20that,in%20wine%20and%20beer%20production.

Now, early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, “Never again will fruit come from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.…” Mark 21:18-22

The barren Fig Tree appeared to bear fruit but was empty of anything valuable. Jesus warns us not to be misled by appearances but to focus on “The fruit.” When the disciples saw the tree’s leaves, they assumed it would yield fruit during its due season.

The purpose of the leaves is to generate nourishment and safeguard the seed as it matures into quality fruit. The barren tree seemed promising due to its beautiful leaves. This led us to believe it was fruitful, yet behind those leaves, no flowers were forming, nor was fruit being produced.

As Jesus approached to examine the tree, He found no signs of any forthcoming fruit. This serves as a caution; do not let the deceptive nature of appearances lead you astray, so He cursed the tree. Why? We often forget that our fruit (gifts) isn’t intended for us. It’s actually intended for those passing by.

Similar to the way this tree looks, we must take a closer look before allowing someone to influence our lives. Is thier “fruit good” or do thier leaves appear appealing? Have you thought about whether this is a fruit you would like to consume and reproduce? This calls for us to stop and observe their life, how they interact with others, thier character and qualities, and whether they possess the fruits of the Spirit. If they don’t reflect Christ, overlooking these indicators may result in us being misled, hurt, and deceived.

Many of us can be deceived, much like this fig tree. Why does this happen? We need to constantly assess the state of our hearts and desires ( what we crave). If we focus on a “fig tree” that looks like what we desire rather than the “One” we genuinely need, we must be cautious! This scenario occurs when we neglect to let the Holy Spirit, through the scripture, feed our body, soul, mind, and spirit. When we turn our gaze towards Him, it strengthens our faith and allows us to perceive beyond the physical world.

If we articulate our beliefs and possess a solid understanding of scripture, yet remain unfruitful, we are no different from this fig tree. Why is this the case? Being religious doesn’t necessitate faith! What it truly requires is faith (a personal trust and confidence in Him). When we live by faith, the scripture tells us,“…you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,’ be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  This occurs when we cultivate intimacy with Christ by dedicating time to reflect, draw near, and allow Him to reveal and eliminate any aspects that contradict His nature.

I challenge you to take a moment and consider whether you tend to follow mere appearances or seek genuine fruit. This is especially crucial if we are hesitant to confront our issues of the heart. By reflecting on our hearts, we can avoid becoming false prophets, much like the “Barren Fig Tree,” and protect ourselves from being misled or misleading others.

Keep in mind, you will reflect what we choose to follow (the fruit you eat)! Who are you following: appearances or Jesus Christ?