R.E.A.P. your daily devotions with Linda Bailey

It doesn't matter which church we go to, who we know or who we've spoken to lately, God looks only at the fruit that we produce.

Matthew 3.1-17

Reference: v.9 "And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." (NIV Bible)

Explore: I always think 'name dropping' is funny. Not because it comes across as if the person talking is trying to make themselves feel important, but usually because I have no idea who the named person is!! I can usually tell by the way someone drops a name that I am suppose to be impressed, but so often I go away and have to ask my husband, 'Who is...?'
John the Baptist was not impressed with name dropping. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to hear him speak about the coming Messiah and he reminded them that it did not count that they were connected down the ancestral line to Abraham. What mattered was how they lived their lives today.

Application: This is so true for us also. It doesn't matter which church we go to, who we know or who we've spoken to lately, God looks only at the fruit that we produce. Do we produce fruit that gives life and will last? Or do we produce fruit that will only fulfill ourselves in this world? One thing is for certain, we can never 'name drop' to God. If we did He would be like, "Yeah, I know him too, actually I created him!" It doesn't quite hold the same weight when you're talking to the Creator of the Universe! The only One we need to strive to know is God. When we can confess we know Him personally, then that's something to 'name drop' about!

Prayer: Lord, while we may put other people on a pedestal You see us all equally. May we live today not worrying about others but only seeking Your approval. Amen.