The Connection Between the Heart and Our Daily Behavior
Matthew 7:16 (NLT)
“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
Why Christians Get Watched So Closely
Growing up, I used to wonder why Christians get watched so closely. But the older I got, the more I realized something: people aren’t just watching us—they’re measuring us. And a lot of that comes from years of seeing folks claim to represent the name of Jesus Christ without ever living the life that matches it. When the world sees that contradiction over and over, there’s a risk of creating skepticism about the transformative power of salvation. People start watching more closely, almost waiting to see if our lives actually match the Christ we talk about. They no longer assume we’ll live with more love or integrity, but they’re checking to see if we really do.
So when someone loudly claims to follow Christ but behaves the opposite, it makes people pay even closer attention to the next believer they meet. That’s why as maturing Christians, we should make sure that the behavior that flows from our hearts represents our Redeemer’s love and light.
Fruit Reveals the Heart
Matthew 7:16 teaches us that you know what’s inside a person by how they behave, because the heart always shows itself on the outside. Verse 20 adds, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
I know a woman who shouts, “Hallelujah, praise God!” on Sunday, but from Monday to Saturday she’s rude and unkind to the same people she was worshipping around. And honestly? It bothers me. Because what happens when those same people hear me say I’m a Christian? They might instantly shut down because of what they experienced with her. Her behavior plants a bad seed in their hearts—and it can push them away from God. It’s a poor witness of the love and light of Christ which, when we allow, transforms our hearts and minds to be more like Him.
We Are Christ’s Representatives
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) says, “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” Jesus represented the Father perfectly on earth, and we are called to represent Him. Misrepresenting Him matters deeply to God. In Job 42:7 (NLT), God tells Job’s friends, “I am angry with you… for you have not spoken accurately about me.” This tells us that God is watching, and He cares about how His people reflect Him.
What God Sees in Our Fruit Matters
So when Jesus talks about fruit, He’s not telling us to judge people by surface behavior—He’s teaching us to pay attention to the source of that behavior. The heart always tells the truth, even when the mouth doesn’t. And Jesus made it clear in John 15:5 (NLT): “For apart from me you can do nothing.” In other words, real fruit can only come from a heart that stays connected to Him.
At the end of the day, our behavior always flows from the heart. You can’t fake what you’re truly harboring in your heart and soul—not for long. Whatever is growing inside will eventually show up on the outside. That’s why Jesus pointed us to fruit. Our actions, our tone, our choices, our responses—these things reveal what’s happening beneath the surface. They reveal the master we’re obeying. When the heart is aligned with God, the fruit will reflect His character. But when the heart drifts, the fruit shifts. So if we want our behavior to honor Christ, the real work begins internally, letting God tend to the soil of our hearts so the fruit that comes out of our lives is holy, healthy, and pleasing to Him.
We should want God to look at our lives and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” This means we must make it a priority to keep our fruit—our words, our actions, our attitudes—aligned with the heart of Christ. That’s the fruit He’s looking for, because it’s the fruit that reflects His heart.
Then, when we tell people we follow Christ, our lives will speak louder than our words—and the fruit we show will draw people toward God, not away from Him. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Behavior Flows from the Heart”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
