You Will Know Them by Their Fruit: What Is Your Life Producing?
“You will recognize them by their fruit.” - Matthew 7:16
There is something powerful about fruit. You don’t have to convince anyone that an apple tree is an apple tree. Eventually, what is growing on the tree becomes visible, for all to see and recognize what it is. The fruit reveals something about the tree itself as well. Jesus used this simple but profound image to teach us about discernment, character, and the evidence of what is happening within us.
Fruit Tells A Story.
It reveals what has been cultivated beneath the surface. And while we often focus on what people say, Jesus invites us to pay attention to what their lives and our lives actually produce.
Faith Is More Than What We Say.
It is easy to talk about faith. It is easy to quote Scripture, attend church, tithe, post inspirational messages, speak on panels, or say that we love God. But what happens when life becomes difficult? What comes out of us when we are disappointed? How do we respond when someone hurts us? What happens when we don’t get out way? How do we treat people who cannot do anything for us? How do we treat our fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ and in Ministry?
These moments can and do reveal our fruit. Our words matter, but our lives speak too. The fruit of our lives can be seen in our relationships, or decisions, our responses, our priorities, and the way we treat ourselves and others.
This doesn’t man that Christians will never become angry, frustrated, hurt, execute ill judgement, or become overwhelmed. We are human. We will have moments when we don’t respond or behave perfectly.
The Question Is Not, “Am I Perfect?”
The question is: “What is growing in me?”
The Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a picture of what healthy spiritual fruit looks like:
Love
Joy
Peave
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
These qualities aren’t simply personality traits. Scripture describes them as the fruit of the spirit. That means spiritual wellness isn’t only about knowing more about God. It is also about becoming more like Christ, evidenced through our “human-suits.” We can know Scripture and still need God to work on our character. We can serve in ministry and still need healing. We can look spiritually mature on the outside while God is inviting us to address something deeper on the inside.
God cares about it all.
Healthy Fruit Begins with Healthy Roots
Fruit doesn’t grow because someone tapes in onto a tree. It grows because something is happening at the roots. This is why spiritual formation and development requires us to look beneath the surface. What are we rooted in? Are we rooted in God’s Word? Are we rooted in prayer? Are we rooted in community? Are we rooted in love? Are we rooted in truth? Or are we allowing fear, resentment, comparison, pride, unforgiveness, insecurity, or the opinions of others to become our foundation?
Sometimes we ask God to change our circumstances when He is working on our roots. We ask Him to change the relationship. Change the job. Change the situation. Change the person who hurt us. And sometimes God’s work begins somewhere much deeper…
“Let Me Work On You.”
Because when the roots change, the fruit eventually changes too.
A Prayer for Good Fruit.
Lord, Help me to pay attention to what is growing within me. Show me the places where I need healing, pruning, and transformation. Remove anything that is preventing me from producing the fruit You desire. Help me to remain rooted in you when life is difficult. Grow love where there has been hurt. Grow peace where there has been anxiety. Grow patience where there has been frustration. Grow kindness where there has been disappointment. Grow faithfulness where I have become discouraged. Grow gentleness where I have become hardened. And grow self-control where I have struggled to respond well. Let the fruit of my life reflect the ONE I say I follow. May what grows within me become a blessing to the people around me.
Amen.
