Fruit is the sweet and fleshy product of a tree that contains seed and can be eaten as food. Figuratively, fruit is the result or reward of work or activity. It derives from the Latin fructus meaning enjoyment of produce, or harvest. To be fruitful means producing much fruit; or producing good of helpful results; productive meaning to make something happen or come into existence using creative, mental, physical, biological or chemical process.
God’s first command to Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and multiply: “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)
God is concerned about fruitfulness, about making things happen, about work and it’s reward, about seed, time and harvest. Jesus is a fruit inspector who is always looking for and at our fruit. He seeks a return on His investment. For there to be a reward, there must be labor. If we are not producing fruit (e.g. fulfilling assignments, spreading the Gospel, seeing life and character change, obedience to the Word and Spirit, making disciples, creating), He cuts away what’s dead or overgrown, and prunes us for more productivity. Are you experiencing God cut away what’s good for what’s better or best? Productivity comes from our connection to Jesus, the Vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.“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 15:1-5)
Jesus said we would be able to discern false prophets from true by examining their fruit:“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
Bad fruit is not edible. It has failed at it’s purpose. You can see it is bad while it’s growing on the branch. Or it looks good and ripe but when you take a bite, you find it tasteless, or sour. We have the ability to do something about it if our lives are bearing bad fruit. What comes out of us is derivative of what is in us. Have you lost sight of what you’re called to? Are you unproductive? Is your character distasteful? You can, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33) Do a fruit inspection today!
