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About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman By
Your Posts You Will Be Recognized As recorded in Matthew
7:20, Jesus said that people are recognized for who they are by the
fruit of their lives. "Thus,
by their fruit you will recognize
them." What
Jesus said is common sense, just a natural law, as is seen in His
analogy that a thorn bush does not grow grapes and a good tree does not
produce bad fruit. Furthermore,
Luke 6:45 records Jesus to say that what we say, and I might add, what
we post on social media sites, reveals what is in our hearts, and what
is in our hearts is who we really are.
"A
good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For the mouth
speaks what
the heart is
full of." So,
after hearing what you say, or reading your social media posts, who do
people recognize you to be? Enhanced
by our social media involvement where it appears that everyone thinks he
is an expert on every issue, many of us have become arrogant, nasty,
angry and self-promoting. These
are not the character qualities that Christians should exhibit, but they
can be easily read in our online social media pulpits.
The
apostle James knew nothing about our social media culture but he knew
the culture of sinful humanity, so what he wrote hundreds of years ago
is relevant in our day. James
1:19 reads: "My
dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick
to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," James wasn't being super
spiritual, overly intellectual, or intentionally doctrinal.
Being quick to listen and slow to speak are common sense
principles of one possessing effective communication skills.
A constructive conversation begins with listening.
Only then will you understand all aspects of the conversation.
A slow response implies a well thought out reply without any
hasty nastiness. Only then
will the conversation, whether spoken or written, be productive.
You can be sure that you will be
branded or recognized for who you are by what you say and by what you
post. If you want to be
recognized as the Christian you claim to be, be quick to hear and slow to
speak. Be humble,
thoughtful, and use your God-given common sense as you reveal the
opinions of your heart. Better
still, allow
Jesus to transform your heart so it will produce good fruit.
A good tree really does produce good fruit and you will be
recognized by your fruit.
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