Devotion 

Good Brings Forth Good

Frances Taylor 

And evil brings forth evil. Honest people can be trusted to be honest and dishonest people can't be trusted, because they lie. Whether we like it or not, we are judged on our actions. People are always watching us, just as we watch others, if we are honest with ourselves. It takes time to get to know people. Because of that, we watch what they do, what they say, so that we can decide how well we want to know them. We all shield ourselves from pain or misunderstanding by only revealing ourselves a little at a time. If someone is always gossiping about their friends, we wonder what they are saying about us, when we're not present. If a co-worker brings home office supplies, are you comfortable leaving your valuables around? It is only when others prove themselves trustworthy that we are willing to share ourselves with them; that we are open to bringing them into our lives. We look for the "good trees" to include in our lives, and once we identify the "rotten trees" we do our best to avoid them, or if that isn't possible, then to avoid giving them invitations to do damage to others. We need to take care that we are the "good trees" that produce good fruit.

Prayer 

Oh Lord, we try to do the right thing and to follow your laws. May we be the good trees that produce good fruit and be good witnesses to your love and our belief in you. Amen.