Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Allison.

Today's scripture offers us a wiser way of being human as we step into the day.

It's Tuesday, and on Tuesdays, we're sitting with the Gospels, with Jesus himself.

Again and again, Jesus shows us that spiritual wisdom isn't abstract. It's lived. It shows up in

real bodies, real relationships, and real daily choices. In today's passage, Jesus offers

something surprisingly practical and deeply freeing about how to discern what's genuine in other

people. Today's reading is Matthew 7, 15 through 20.

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 thorn bushes 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.

Jesus says something surprisingly practical in Matthew 7. By their fruit, you will recognize them.

He doesn't say by their intentions or by their words or even by how spiritual they sound.

He says, by their fruit. That's such an earthy image. Fruit is tangible.

You can see it. You can touch it. You can taste it. Fruit is the visible outcome of something deeper of roots, soil, nourishment, and time. Fruit doesn't appear overnight. It grows slowly, and because of that, fruit reveals

patterns. Jesus is pointing us toward something important. How someone shows up in the world

flows from what is actually happening inside them, from the health or unhealth of their inner life.

This can be difficult to discern because people can look impressive on the surface.

They can say all the right things.

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