Fruit

Let it be known, I love fruit. Sweet fruit, sour fruit, juicy fruit, ....not so juicy but still a lil juicy fruit, it's all delicious. That being said, it has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm going to write, except for the fruit part.

I'm sure every christian who was raised up in sunday schol or youth group has heard of the examples used for Christians bearing fruit. Like a tree, if it is not water, pruned, taken care of, it will not produce juicy delicious decadent fruit, or the fruit it does produce is withery and full of worms, thus worthless. It's hard to really compare ourselves to that. I know when I wasn't feeding my spirit (Christianese for spending personal time with God worshipping and reading His word, the Bible), and I was being honest, I would admit that I was not producing noticeable fruit. Well thinking back, the only reason I could have said that is because I was not producing anything that originated from my relationship with God, and not because I had an understanding of what that "fruit" should look like.

So what should the fruit that Christian's bear look like? That is to say, what are things that a person can see and say, "that Christian is being fed, water, and pruned, and is healthy in their faith."

Well, I don't know.

I definitely would say there is not a particular list that, if not followed, one could claim the Christian is not healthy. However, I do feel there are somethings which, if present, can be said are caused by a "well taken care of" faith.
All that to say, I think there are things which can be seen which appear only in a Christian who takes his relationship with God seriously, however, the lack of these things does not mean the contrary. Just like acorns mean oak trees, but oak tress don't necessarily mean acorns.

But don't take my word for it, lets look at the scriptures.

Colossians 1:4-6
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.


1) Ok so the Gospel produces fruit.


Paul also goes on to say in verse 10 that he is praying that they be fruitful in every good work.

2) Good works may, but not always, produce fruit.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. In verse 23 he says, speaking of the seed fallen on good soil, "this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."


3) Fruit is not produced in universal amount. The amount of fruit produced does not define the Christian, however presence of fruit, in any amount, is important. 


John 15!! JACKPOT!! The big kahuna. Here Jesus talks specifically about producing fruit. 
Verse 4,  
"Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."


4) Fruit cannot be produced unless we are abiding in Christ. Abide: to remain in, rest in.


Bonus: If we abide in Him, we ALSO receive whatever we ask for!!
Verse 7: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.


And Paul tops it all off with a list of what some fruits produced look like. 
Galatians 5:22-24
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."


Ok, so I know several people who's personal qualities mimic this list. Ironically (sarcasm) I can attest that their personal pursuit of God includes abiding in Christ each day, and yes the abundance of each "fruit" is different in their lives, and their good works, although selfless, do produce signs of the things Paul listed. And most importantly, each is pursuing an understanding of the Gospel with every ounce of their life.

So what does this tell me??
Well I know I long to produce fruit, because also in John 15, Jesus also tells us that His Father (which is also our Father, Hebrews 2) is pleased when we produce fruit, and pleasing my heavenly Father is my number one goal in life.

I think writing all this has revealed to me that there is a balance of pursuing an understanding of the Gospel and abiding in what I know about Christ. And so doing, I think unintentionally I will begin to bear fruit that pleases my heavenly Father and reveals that I am a disciple of Christ.