Good Morning Sunshine! What Does Your Fruit Look Like?

Luke 6:44 ~ “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.”

Galatians 5:22-23 ~ “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

On Monday, we talked about “The Proof is in the Pudding” and on yesterday; “You Can’t Fake Your Fruit.” Well, today, we are going to dive in a little deeper and make this thing personal, it’s all about you and the truth that your fruit will give you away your actions, your words, you’re your attitudes will reveal what is truly inside of you. It is time to shift your focus to self-examination: What does your fruit look like?

It’s easy to look at the fruit of others and judge whether they are bearing good or bad fruit. But before you examine someone else’s tree, Jesus reminds us to look at our own. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3. Instead of pointing fingers, you must first ask yourself: Is my life producing the kind of fruit that reflects Christ?

Jesus made it clear that you cannot fake good fruit. You may be able to put on a spiritual appearance for a while, but in time, what is inside of you will come out. (In the words of my grandmother, you might can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool God none of the time.) “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”  Matthew 7:18! If you claim to follow Christ, but your life is filled with jealousy, hate, pride, bitterness, or dishonesty, then something in your spiritual foundation needs to change. The fruit of your life should be a reflection of the Holy Spirit at work within you. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Galatians 5:22-23!

The key to bearing good fruit is not in your own efforts, but in staying connected to the source. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4! A tree does not struggle to produce fruit; it happens naturally when it is planted in the right soil, watered, and given sunlight. In the same way, when you are rooted in Christ, spending time in His Word, seeking Him in prayer, and yielding to His Spirit, your life will naturally produce the fruit that glorifies God.

If you examine your life and realize your fruit is not what it should be, don’t be discouraged. God is the Master Gardener, and He is always working to prune and refine us. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2. Pruning is not always easy, it can be painful, but it is necessary for greater growth.

If someone were to examine the fruit of your life today, what would they see? Would they see love, and humility flowing from you, or would they witness meanness, and pride? Sometimes, you don’t realize what kind of fruit you are producing because you justify your actions with excuses like, “That’s just how I am,” or “God knows my heart.” But Jesus reminds us that “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45! What comes out of you, your words, reactions, and habits, is a direct reflection of what’s inside of you.

If your fruit is not lining up with God’s Word, it’s time to take responsibility and allow Him to change you from the inside out. True spiritual maturity is not about how long you’ve been in church, but about how much your life looks like Christ. (stop using this same old story, I grew up in church and have been in church all my life, that is not what you need, you need to be growing in Jesus Christ!) Good fruit cannot be forced; it is the result of a heart that is continually submitted to God. The more you allow Him to work in you, the more your fruit will become a testimony of His Presence in your lives.

Take a moment today and do a self-examination by asking yourself these questions and then be honest with yourself for the answer. And the great thing is, if you don’t have an answer, you can repent right then and there and ask your God to help you!  What kind of fruit do you see in your life? Is it evidence of the Holy Spirit or the works of the flesh? Are you staying connected to Christ, the true Vine, in a way that allows you to grow spiritually? What areas of your life might God be pruning right now to help you bear more fruit? How can you focus more on your own growth instead of looking at the shortcomings of others? Your fruit will always give you away, and the truth of your walk with God will not be found in what you say, but in what your life consistently produces. The question is: Does your fruit reflect Christ?

Let’s Pray:

Father, today I choose to examine my own heart rather than looking at others. Help me to be honest about the fruit I am producing. If there is anything in my life that is not of You, any bitterness, selfishness, impatience, or sin, reveal it to me so that I may surrender it to You. Father, I desire to bear good fruit that reflects Your Presence in my life. Teach me to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let my words and actions be a testimony of Your transforming power. Father, I recognize that I cannot bear good fruit on my own, I need to remain connected to You. Father, keep me grounded in Your Word, devoted in prayer, and sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit. Prune away anything that is hindering my growth, even if the process is uncomfortable. I trust that You are shaping me into the person You created me to be. Father, forgive me for the times I have judged others while ignoring my own shortcomings. Help me to focus on my own spiritual growth and not compare my journey to anyone else’s. Let my life be a living example of Your grace, producing fruit that draws others to You. Father, I thank You for Your patience, Your Grace and Mercy, and Your love. Continue to work in me, Father, until my life fully reflects Your character in every way. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean