Unlike a tree, you have the ability to choose the fruit your life produces.

Jesus said that you can tell what is in a person’s heart by listening to what that person says. He used the word “heart” to mean a person’s true character and feelings. If someone frequently gossips, lies, and speaks negatively about others, you have a pretty good impression of his character. Likewise, you can easily guess the character of a person whose words are encouraging, kind, and truthful.

People can’t see your heart, but they can see (and hear) what your heart produces. It’s like the fruit on a tree. You know what kind of tree you’re looking at by the fruit it produces. Jesus said, “Make a tree good, and it’s fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its frujit will be bad” (Matthew 12:33). Make it your goal to produce good fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.” Matthew 12:35