Forty Days to November Day 19: "...Known by its Fruit"

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Benjamin Franklin

"I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help His other children and my brethren.  For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator.

"You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them.  By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration.  I can do nohing to deserve such rewards...The faith you mention has certainly its use in the world.  I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavor to lessen it in any man.  But I wish it were more productive of good works; works of kindness, charity, mercy, and public spirit; not holiday keeping, sermon reading or hearing; performing church ceremonies or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments...

"The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but, if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produce any fruit."

~Benjamin Franklin

 

Patriot's Prayer: Lord, according to Your Word, each believer has an important role in Your kingdom. Make clear the path of service You have for each and every one of us and use the talents and abilities You have given us all for Your kingdom and Your glory.

Patiot's Promise: Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
~Matthew 13:33-35

NOTE: All source material(unless otherwise noted)from God's Promises for the American Patriot by Dr. Richard D Lee & Jack Countryman; In God We Still Trust by Dr. Richard D Lee; and The American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America(NKJV) by Richard G Lee (general editor).