False Prophets and the Face in the Mirror

Watch out for false prophets! They’re hungry wolves disguised as harmless sheep. You’ll be able to tell them from real prophets by the sort of results they produce. You can’t pick grapes from thorn bushes and you can’t pick figs from briars. Healthy trees produce healthy fruit, but unhealthy trees produce unhealthy fruit. False prophets will be treated the same as trees that aren’t good for anything. They’ll be chopped down and thrown into a fire. So you will be able to recognize them by the kind of fruit they produce.

~ Jesus, As Matthew Tells It
The New Peace Treaty: A New Translation of the New Testament

This is not an invitation for me to look at other people and judge them. The only "prophet" I am qualified to judge is the one who looks back at me from the mirror.

What are the fruits of my actions? What are the fruits of my words? What do people know about me, my witness, my prophesies based on the fruit I have produced?

Have I even produced any fruit at all? Am I like the church in Laodicea of which Jesus says in Revelation:

I know the kind of things that you’re doing. You’re neither hot nor cold! I wish that you were either hot or cold! Since this is how it is, it has been predetermined for me to vomit you from my mouth because you are lukewarm! You say things like, ‘I’m rich and I‘ve always been rich! I don’t need anything!’ You’ve no idea how miserable, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked you really are!
~ The New Peace Treaty: A New Translation of the New Testament

But again, the one I examine is myself. I cannot remove the tiny splinter from your eye if I have a giant Red Wood Tree growing in my eye. So let's not use these words to attack others, but to faithfully, honestly, and fearlessly examine ourselves -- for if we all sweep our own side of the street, the whole world becomes clean.

Reviews

[Renée]

Dear Father Owles.. I adore this message you shared ..

[Rita L. Sev]

Certainly words of wisdom shared. We need to hear this message again and again, until it sinks in.

[Holly Mason]

beautiful words sir
and I smile for I have no qualms with who I am and what my personal beliefs are
I believe in the life of others , I believe with all my faith in my fellow man and I believe in after life
I will give any one any of my belongings at anytime and I smile
thank you fine Father, I read many of your posts but believe this is the first time I communicated so it has been nice to meet you

[Emily B]

again, thank you . . . much needed words for my soul this morning