By Their Fruits, and Not By Their Credentials, Shall You Know Them

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By Their Fruits, and Not By Their Credentials, Shall You Know Them

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ~Jesus. Matthew 7:16

Christians, like the rest of world, are immensely and blindly impressed by credentials, titles and degrees. What I call paper. Paper, well, what is written on it, blinds the eyes to the true state of the person who holds the title, degree, qualification, etc., thus allowing them to literally get away with murder, rudeness and corruption! 

The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and high priest, the ones with the education, qualifications, titles, and status in the community, were the very ones Jesus said took the most advantage of the people, who sought the applause and honour of people, but made their followers twice the sinners, or ten times worse, than themselves!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.~ Jesus.  Matthew 23:15

The disciples of Jesus were not qualified, educated or degreed men. They were people of faith whom Jesus knew would love Him with their all their hearts and so would not be easily swayed by opinions or titles. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.~ Jesus Matthew 5:3

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? James 2:5‭-‬6

We must discern those we befriend and those we follow. We must not focus on or be taken in by the front they put up, but we must examine their long-term fruits. God requires us to be wise in our relationships. By their fruits you shall know what lies in people's hearts, and not by their titles or credentials.

Meaghan Spies © 2022