THURSDAY: HOW TO BECOME HOLY

May 25, 2023
2 min read

Matthew 7:15-23

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Watch out for people who say, “God told me to do this,” when their actions are not in line with Scripture. They talk a “good” talk, but their motives can be self-centered and greedy. Jesus says we will recognize them by their fruit. Those who possess the Holy Spirit produce good fruit, while those who do not possess the Spirit cannot produce good fruit.

Likewise, those who have the Spirit will do the will of the Father, while those who don’t have the Spirit can only do their own will. No matter how much “good” we see them doing, if they are not doing it for Christ, then they are doing it to please themselves.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

If the Holy Spirit is not in the heart, then the motives cannot be centered on Jesus Christ. Some people assume that good people go to heaven. The Holy Spirit dwelling in my heart makes me holy. Therefore, only people who have the Holy Spirit in their heart go to heaven; i.e. only holy people go to heaven.

How do I become holy? These verses tell us:

Accept the Lord and get to know Him. When I accept the Lord as my Savior, He send me the Holy Spirit that allows me to get to know God.

Produce fruit from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit in me that can be seen by others; it is by this fruit that I can recognize a believer.

Lord, thank You for showing me the way to get to know You. Thank You for producing spiritual fruit in me, so that others can see You at work. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman