From the book “Truth For Today: A Daily Touch of God’s Grace” by John F. MacArthur

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” - Matthew 7:18

A fruit may be beautiful and decorative and offer refreshing shade in the summer. But its main purpose is to bear fruit, and it is therefore judged by what it produces and not by how it appears. Similarly, anyone who claims to speak for God must be judged by his life, not merely by his appearance or words.

False prophets can sometimes deceive even genuine Christians. If you become careless concerning the Word of God, lazy about prayer, and apathetic about God’s kingdom, it is easy for you to be deceived by a clever, pleasant, smooth-talking teacher who only appears to be orthodox.

Therefore it’s crucial that you remain vigilant and well prepared. Bad fruit from a bad tree is simply not acceptable, no matter how good both may appear. It has to be examined carefully (see Hebrews 5:14). But for the mature believer, there is true assurance in Jesus’ words, “‘by their fruits you will know them'” (Matthew 7:20). There is no way to be deceived if you look closely.

Transcript is originally taken from the book and for preview purposes only. Please don’t cut and paste. Subject to copyright.

Our devotion comes from the book:

Truth For Today: A Daily Touch of God’s Grace by John F. MacArthur

Be prepared to be encouraged, challenged, energized, and changed as John MacArthur offers seasoned wisdom on different passages of Scripture. Perfect for daily readings, Truth for Today is a unique gift book destined to be a treasured classic for years to come.

You may buy your copy at Amazon: https://amz.run/4i4s