welcome to another word of encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional today's reading is titled look at the fruit and it was written by John Blaze
 will the real insert person's name here please stand up that's the familiar line at the end of the game show to tell the truth a panel of four celebrities asks questions of three individuals claiming to be the same person of course to our imposters but it's up to the panel to discern the actual person in what episode of celebrities try to guess the real Johnny marks who wrote the lyrics to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the celebrities found out how difficult it was to figure out who's who even when asking good questions Impostors finagle the truth which made for entertaining television
 Discerning who's who when it comes to false teachers is a far cry from television game show Antics but it can be equally as challenging and is infinitely more important stuff ferocious wolves often come to us in sheep's clothing and in Matthew 7 Jesus warns even the wise among us to watch out the best test is not so much good questions but good eyes look at their fruit for that's how you'll recognize them scripture gives us assistance and seeing good and bad fruit the good looks like love joy peace forbearance kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control we've got to pay close attention for Wolves play by deception but as believers who are filled with the spirit we serve the real good shepherd full of grace and truth
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew chapter 7 verses 15 through 20
 watch out for false prophets they come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves by their fruit you will recognize them do people pick grapes from Thorn bushes or figs from thistles likewise every good tree Bears good fruit but a bad tree Bears Bad fruit a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. By their fruit you will recognize them
 let's pray great Shepherd evil is often disguised as good which can make it difficult to know what is truly good so would you please give us eyes and ears to be able to discern what is best for us and pleasing to you thank you Lord It's in Jesus name that we pray amen thank you for listening my name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries