Fruit & False Prophets

Fruit and false prophets . . . not something that I usually imagine going together. The phrasing of those two words makes me think of some outlandish looking man with a long, untamed beard running a fruit stand or maybe Nicolae Carpathia (from the Left Behind series) carrying a watermelon or a bushel of apples. What in the world do fruits and false prophets have one to do with the other?

Jesus says that fruits and false prophets have much in common. He says that false prophets are disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. He also says that we will know these wolves by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

Based on Jesus' words it's easy for me to think that that-high-profile-high-powered-person-who-influences-thousands-maybe-even-millions might be a false prophet. His or her words are so obviously not Biblical that seeing this person for who they are is a no brainer. And their fruit? Rotten. Bruised. Possibly causes of sickness and disease to anyone who eats it. I can look at this person and think, "Buddy, Jesus is coming. You had better get it together!"

What about me, though? What about little-ol-me-who-influences-people-by-the-tens-maybe-even-by-the-ones? What kind of prophet am I to those around me? What kind of fruit am I bringing to the table? My friends at www.m-w.com give us the traditional definitions of a prophet but they also include this: an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group. Wow! Based on those words I'm a prophet. A prophet for Christ who influences and effects the tens-or-maybe-only-ones around me.

Today as we go about our daily business, let's remember that we're all prophets for Christ because we are spokesmen and women for His cause. If it makes things easier just know that I'll be picturing myself in my prophet's mantle with a bushel of shiny, good fruit tucked under one arm to share with those around me.