"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Jesus shows that the good man who stores up good things in his heart is the man who will be fruitful and will be able to speak words of life and words that heal. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks either good words or evil. There’s a call here to store up good things in our hearts by coming to God and allowing Him to purify us and fill our hearts with His love and His words.

Fruitfulness is part of the promise here and it is well worth it to expend our time and our lives in storing up good things in our hearts so that we will be able to give away the good things God wants us to give. Lasting and eternal fruit will happen through our lives as we decide each day to abide in Christ and allow Him to fill our hearts with the good things of His Spirit. His Word, His power and His Holy Spirit are available to us to receive each day. What He said to the disciples, He says to everyone of us who would seek to follow Him: Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give.

I cannot give what I do not have. That is why it is so important for me to come to Jesus every day and be filled with His Spirit, His love, His Word and His heart. The Christian life is a daily discipline of coming to Jesus and allowing Him to store up in our hearts the good things of His Spirit so that we are equipped to lead others to Jesus and into a vital relationship that brings great purpose and fulfillment of personal destiny. My destiny is wrapped up in abiding in Christ each day and responding to the assignments He’s giving me to speak for Him words of life, wisdom, healing and direction to the people who need it.

Thank You Heavenly Father for giving me your great love and healing power. Thank You for reminding me today that I need to keep coming to You to store up good things in my heart so that I can bless others with your words. Help me to be rich in your Spirit and sensitive to your direction. Come Lord Jesus and fill me with your Spirit so that I can walk in concert with Heaven. Help me to be a blessing to people today. I set myself to store up good things in my heart so that out of the abundance of your Spirit, I will be able to speak words that build up and affirm and bring wisdom.