Good fruit

So how do you know what is good fruit?

Jesus taught the importance of bearing fruit. However, Jesus was specific about what type of fruit that was required. Jesus wants good fruit.

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way, they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:15-19 NLT)

So how do we know if we are bearing good fruit?

Paul helps us out in his letter to the Galatians,

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23: NLT)

This is the fruit we are to be bearing. Paul spells it out beautifully for us, but it is through the Holy Spirit that these will be evidence in our lives.

A few verses earlier, Paul tells us about the struggle to bearing fruit.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.” (Galatians 5:16-18 NLT)

We still have our sinful nature, so when we strive to bear fruit, our struggles get in the way. Jesus wants that good fruit. We are representations of Him. We are his image-bearers.

James tells us another way.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 1:14-18 NLT)

Our fruit is seen as good works to those around us. Loving others well, showing kindness and patience are just a few ways we can bear fruit.

As we walk out the rest of the week, let us strive to bear some good fruit for Christ.

“Lord, help me to bear good fruit for you. Help me to love others, as you have loved me. Please help me to be kind when others are not kind to me. Help me to be patient when things seem to take forever. In Jesus’ names. Amen”