The Trees You Walk By

Notice the trees that you are walking by / and the fruit that they produce and knowledge it provides.

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

Matthew 7:16

In the beginning, right in the middle of the garden, there were two trees.

The tree of life.

And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God’s desire was simple: that we would continually choose from the tree of life — living in relational obedience and trust in Him.

But when our first parents reached for the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their choice declared something deeper: “I know what’s best for my life. I know just as much as God.”

That declaration still echoes today. Even now, we walk between those two trees. And the question is: what fruit are we picking?

Jesus warned His disciples: not everyone who looks spiritual, teaches well, or carries influence is worth following. The test isn’t the outfit, the charisma, or even the words. The test is the fruit. “By their fruit you will recognize them.”

That’s what the lyric says:

“Take a step back / Notice the trees that you are walking by / And the fruit that they produce and knowledge it provides.”

But here’s the danger: sometimes you’re moving so fast, you never stop to notice. You just reach for whatever’s in front of you.

And fruit is everywhere.

It can look like a relationship — but does it leave you nourished or drained?

It can look like a habit — but is it shaping peace or shame?

It can look like ambition — but is it producing joy or just fatigue?

It can look like influence — but does it build others or only feed self-esteem?

The truth is, fruit always reveals the root. You can fake leaves for a season, but you can’t fake fruit forever.

That’s why Jesus calls us to discernment. To slow down. To look closely at the trees along our path.

Because sooner or later, you will eat the fruit you’ve been walking by.

The German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach once said,

“Man is what he eats.”

He wasn’t talking about diets but about how what we consume — physically, mentally, spiritually — becomes who we are. His point lands the same way Jesus’ warning does: what you feed on will eventually define you.

But here’s the good news: Jesus on the cross became the new Tree of Life. And its fruit is His very character — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians.

Through Him, we don’t just avoid bad fruit. We’re invited to feast on eternal life.

So maybe the question isn’t just, “Where am I going?” but, “What tree am I reaching for?”

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Reflection

What “trees” have you been walking by without noticing?

What fruit are your habits, relationships, or influences producing in you?

And today, are you reaching for the fruit of self, or the fruit of Christ?

Prayer

Lord, thank You that in Jesus You’ve given me the Tree of Life again. Teach me to reach for His fruit — to taste and see that You are good. Root me in You, so that my life reflects Your character and produces fruit that lasts.

In Jesus’ name, Amén.