Today we want to talk about fruit. You know, everybody likes fruit. While I was living in the Central American country of Belize I enjoyed eating all the tropical fruits; fruits such as mangoes, tangerines, papaya and pineapples. Obviously, fruit is great gift that God has given to mankind, but what would our lives be like if there were no fruits? Would you get up in the morning and have a glass of carrot juice with your breakfast? Would you eat radishes with cake and ice cream? After eating dinner, would you finish your meal with a piece of potato pie?
Thus, we can conclude that something of great value would be missing from our lives if there were no fruits. In a similar manner bearing fruit is important issue in the life of a Christian. The Apostle Paul said to the believers in the city of Rome, “Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God,” Romans 7:4. Our God likes fruit too. He likes the fruit that we, the branches of his vine, produce. Fruit is the product of life. Living things, such as trees, plants and vines produce fruit. And that fruit provides nourishment to people and animals. Since we have the life of God in us, we too should be producing fruit, that is, actions that meet needs, ease burdens or produce joy in the lives of those around us. God intends us, his children, to accomplish his will on the earth in order to produce fruit that brings him glory and honor. Jesus himself told us in Matthew 5:
…Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
And in John 15:
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain… John 15:16
The fruit that we produce, our good deeds, our acts of kindness and our help to those with burdens, they focus light on the goodness and faithfulness of God. Such deeds draw their motivation from the same love the possessed Jesus when he gave his life to pay the penalty for our sin on the cross. And these deeds attract the attention of those who do not know God or those who disobey him. This is the assignment that each of us has been given.
What about you? Do you realize that the Lord has chosen you? He has appointed you and positioned you to be a fruit bearer. God sees your potential for fruit. And he is providing for your life all the necessary ingredients for you to produce fruit.
The Apostles Paul and Peter tell us the same thing. In Ephesians 2 Paul says:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
And in 1 Peter 4 Peter tells us that:
According as each has received a gift, be ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the grace of God in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
We are God workmanship. We are specially created and equipped for the fruit God wants us to produce. He has already planned out the circumstances where we can become a blessing to others. That is what God had in mind when he called Abraham to settle in the land of Canaan and make him a father of many nations. God said that he would make him a blessing, that is, he would be “dispensing good to others,” Genesis 12:1 AMP. Would you like to be involved in dispensing good to those around you? Yes? You should. It is exciting to see the Lord working through us.