Bearing Fruit

One of the simple but profound truths of the Bible is that a tree will be known by the fruit it bears. An apple tree produces apples, a fig tree produces figs - the fruit is both the product and the identifier of the tree. As Jesus put it, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matt 7:16).

The application to those who would be discles of Christ is just as simple: "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7).  

One of the problems we run in to as Christians is the process of fruit bearing. We tend to equate it with outcome produced by our activity: "If it is to be, it is up to me," as I learned in Harding University. Except that, it is not so. 

Fruit producing is not accomplished by vigorous effort, but rather by remaining connected to the Source: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

It is not the flurry of Christian activity that produces fruit or identifies us as disciples, it is our abiding in Christ, staying connected to the Messiah, which is accomplished more by quiet prayer and reflection than by the hub-bub of church work. 

We will work as His disciples for He worked. But the work is a result of bearing fruit not the other way around. The fruit we bear is not the outcome of our physical activities, it is the inward change of our spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control" (Gal 5:22-23).

Spending focused time with the Lord, changes us on the inside, which will be evidenced by what we do on the outside, but it is the inward change, not the outward activity that is the fruit. Jus' Sayn.