Fruitful

During a recent Bible lesson I became curious about how many times ‘fruit(s)’ or ‘fruitful’ was used in the New Testament, most in relation to a Christian’s life – seventy-three verses, where one or the other of those words are used 84 times. Guess it’s pretty important,then, beginning with John’s words:

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Matthew 3:8 KJV)

There should be visible changes in a person’s life when they become a Christian. I remember a Junior High girl who asked, “If someone keeps sinning but say they are a Christian, are they?” It’s a sad question because it is usually asked with a specific person in mind. The one on her mind was herself – there were no changes in her life after she said Christ was her savior. She was correct in questioning her understanding of salvation. Good fruit is expected.

Jesus was speaking of false prophets, but it’s applicable to Christian lives:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18 KJV)

Just a verse below Jesus explains that not everyone who calls upon His name will be part of the kingdom:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 KJV)

He sets such a scene later, turning away those who called, but did not follow:

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (Matthew 25:41-43 KJV)

Our ‘fruit’ is constantly being inspected, especially by someone under conviction who is afraid their lives will be damaged by the expected changes. They easily see those who carry the name Christian, yet have no fruit to show for that carrying. Then they apply the label  “Hypocrite,” and want no part of what is being offered.

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! (Matthew 21:18-20 KJV)

If Jesus were to walk by us in the morning, what fruit of ours would He find? What fruit would you expect to offer Him? Or, have we withered on our own?