September 8th, 2026
Hi Friends,
It was a quiet Saturday morning. Sharon went out to pick some rhubarb in order to make one of her delicious desserts. The next thing I know, she’s gloved up, wearing a face mask and asking me if it’s okay to put infected plants in the compost bin. She’d discovered aphids infesting the rhubarb and all hope for dessert was lost. Rhubarb torte with a side of aphids doesn’t really get the taste buds excited, does it?
I thought of that incident yesterday when I offered to connect a friend to a Christian professional who could serve him in a specific area of need. His quick and resounding, “No thank you!” was almost an affront to me but I knew the back story. I had provided another reference to a Christian professional (someone I didn’t know but who came recommended by a Christian friend) and that person had badly botched their business deal, leaving my friend with a very bad taste in his mouth and not eager to associate with Christians.
The point is, bad fruit is never appetizing or appealing. You know it. I know it. Jesus knew it too. He went so far as to make the quality of a tree’s fruit the litmus test of the tree itself. In warning against false prophets, he told people: “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.” (Mt. 7:15-20)
It bugs me deeply that a Christian brother, by his unprofessionalism, has created a negative witness in the life of my non-Christian friend whom I and others have been praying for and seeking to serve for years. But, clearly, this is not a new problem. Jesus addressed it long ago. My friend still has the witness of the Holy Spirit in his life.
The concern I have today is not to rant about failed witness. In fact, we all fail miserably sometimes, willfully or inadvertently. On top of that, you can’t predict how people will respond, even to a kindness, let alone an affront.
The larger question is our awareness and consistency. Are we humbly depending on the Lord to make us good fruit and to then consistently bear good fruit through the witness of our lives? This means not taking a day off and always being aware that even a cup of cold water given freely bears witness to Jesus. Am I doing whatever my hand finds to do today as if I was doing it for the Lord? It’s a critical question to which there are no exceptions. Our problem does not come from failure — we all fail — but from pride that keeps us from owning our failures, learning from them, asking forgiveness for them and making restitution where necessary.
I’m writing to a group of people who most often bear good fruit and I’m grateful! But let’s keep the significance of this process in mind. I don’t want to be somebody’s excuse for rejecting the witness of Jesus. Do you? Live your faith well today. It matters!
Blessings!
Doug