Good Fruit

Day 34 

Good Fruit

 

We, all of us long to feel like we are not alone in this world. Indeed the one ‘not good’ thing in all creation before the fall was for us to be alone… “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

We are formed to belong to a community, to be deeply connected to one another. But post the fall human communities can be as complex and broken as human hearts can be. How do we find our way to ‘our people’ and discern between spiritual health and spiritual darkness, between image bearers of God speaking His words authentically and ferocious wolves masquerading as sheep.

Up until now on this mountainside Jesus has called His listeners to reflect on their own behaviour and bring it in line with the values and reality of the Kingdom of God. Now He challenges His listeners to reflect with discernment on the behaviours of those around them.

‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.’

Matthew 7:15-17

Jesus here calls His people to move away from judgementalism towards discernment. And He gives us a measure, a litmus test to use in discerning between the false ‘wolves’ and true followers of Jesus who claim to represent Him…“By their fruit you will recognise them.”

The philosopher Seneca said, “A wise man never asks what another man serves, for only his actions will speak the truth”. What we truly believe is most clearly revealed in what we do. A person’s fruit reveals their heart more than the thousand words that drip from their lips. 

Scripture describes the deeds of darkness as both ‘bad fruit’ and ‘fruitless’ and describes children of light as producing the “fruit of the light” which is “all goodness, righteousness and truth”.

 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Ephesians 5:8-11

Words are rarely an accurate measure of a heart. Some people are quiet, unassuming and humble, but their fruit is visible in their spiritually healthy choices and actions. Others may look and sound good with convincing rhetoric, but a closer scrutiny of their life reveals either rotting-worm filled fruit or a complete absence of fruit altogether.

Scripture talks about fruit a lot. From Genesis to Revelation fruit is mentioned in many different ways, often metaphorically and human behaviour is described in terms of good or bad fruit regularly throughout the prophets. The original blessing of God on humankind (introduced in Genesis 1 and reiterated throughout scripture) was deeply connected with fruitfulness. It is interesting that both the gospel of Matthew and the book of Genesis refer to fruit (in relation to people) 11 times. 

Fruitfulness in scripture is consistently described not just as good and righteous behaviour, but rather as goodness and righteousness coming from a deep source; the inner world of a person manifested in their outward behaviours.

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ Galatians 5:22-23

‘And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.’ Philippians 1: 9

‘For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience’ Colossians 1:9-11

‘But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.’ James 3:17

There is only one person who has ever walked this earth that has fully and completely manifested the fruit listed in these scriptures above: Jesus Himself. And it is Jesus alone who heals us, refines us and grows us so we too can produce these fruits. 

As we look around us for people to have fellowship with and receive advice from, following Jesus’ advice (in Matthew 7:15-17) calls us to look past the words people speak, to the fruit of their lives, and as we do our litmus test is: Do they resemble Jesus? 

If people’s lives do not resemble the life of Jesus then they shouldn’t be trusted to represent the word or the will of Jesus. 

Jesus’ people look like Jesus from the deep inner source of His Spirit at work within them. Though none of us can claim to be perfect, if we are following Jesus our behaviours and choices will reflect the values of God’s Kingdom and the life of His Spirit at work in us. 

Even when we stumble (when not if!) walking with Jesus means we will then ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’ (Matthew 3:8) and work for redemptive grace and forgiveness in the lives of those around us. Just as Christ has done that same work in us.

Because it’s simple really: God’s Children resemble their Heavenly Father. You might even say the family resemblance is striking!

 

 

Journaling The Journey

A persons fruit reveals their heart.

The philosopher Seneca said, “A wise man never asks what another man serves, for only his actions will speak the truth.”

What we truly believe is always revealed by what we do. As you look around you for people to have fellowship with and receive advice from, look closely at the fruit of their life. Does it reflect the values of God’s Kingdom? Do they resemble Jesus?

List some people who you know God is calling you to listen to, talk with and learn from. 

List some voices in your life that do not help you pursue the things of God. 

Don’t allow someone to speak into your life who is not in a place you would want to be in life.

 

Today’s hillside Photograph is taken in the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, UK.