Fruit of Righteousness
Date: May 17, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse: Proverbs 11:30: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives."
L - Listen for God's Word and pray: Prayer: "Dear God, as I come before You, open my heart and mind to receive Your Word. Speak to me through this verse and reveal the wisdom You have for me. Teach me to bear good fruit in my life and empower me to make a positive impact on those around me. In Jesus' name, amen."
E - Explore the History and Meaning: Proverbs is a collection of pieces of wisdom that are mostly attributed to King Solomon and other wise individuals. Proverbs 11:30 highlights the outcome of righteousness and wisdom, comparing it to a tree of life and stressing the life-saving impact it has on others.
In this particular verse, we are reminded that the righteous, those who walk in alignment with God's ways, produce good fruit in their lives. They radiate the qualities of wisdom, integrity, and godliness, which have a life-giving impact on those around them. The righteous person's actions, words, and character bring blessing, guidance, and even salvation to others.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: Key Words or Phrases:
Fruit of the righteous: Refers to the positive outcomes and virtues that result from a life lived in righteousness.
Tree of life: Symbolizes vitality, blessing, and spiritual abundance. It represents the life-giving impact of the righteous on others.
Wise: Describes the person who has acquired wisdom, discernment, and understanding through a relationship with God and the application of His principles.
Saves lives: Indicates the transformative and life-saving impact of the righteous person's influence on others, both spiritually and emotionally.
S - Summarize and Share: You know, when I read Proverbs 11:30, it fills me with a sense of purpose and responsibility. It reminds me that our lives are not just about personal success and fulfillment, but also about making a positive impact on others.
Think about it this way: When we live in righteousness, when we walk according to God's ways, something incredible happens. Our lives become like a tree of life, bearing good fruit that brings vitality, blessing, and spiritual abundance to those around us.
Living righteously means more than just following a set of rules. It's about cultivating a heart that reflects God's character and values. It's about pursuing wisdom, discernment, and understanding through our relationship with Him. As we grow in wisdom, we become conduits of His love, grace, and truth.
Our righteous actions, words, and character have the power to save lives. They can bring healing to the brokenhearted, hope to the discouraged, and guidance to the lost. When we choose to live righteously, we become agents of transformation in a world that so desperately needs it.
So, let's reflect on this verse together. How are we bearing fruit in our lives? Are we radiating God's love, grace, and wisdom to those around us? Are we making a positive impact on the people we encounter each day?
Let's strive to be intentional in our pursuit of righteousness and wisdom. Let's ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, enabling us to bear good fruit that brings life and blessing to others. May our lives become a testimony of God's transforming power, and may we inspire others to seek righteousness and wisdom as well.
I challenge you to take a moment to reach out to someone in need today, to share a word of encouragement, or to lend a helping hand. Let's be the tree of life in someone's life, pointing them to the source of true life, Jesus Christ. As we do, we participate in God's redemptive work, saving lives and making a lasting difference in this world.
Bible Cross References:
Matthew 7:17-18: "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."
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Psalm 1:3: "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."
John 15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."