Tag bearing fruit

Bearing Fruit or withered Fig Tree?

The Preacher 1 Comment

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

One morning Jesus felt hungry and saw a fig tree full of green leaves by the road. It looked healthy and promising. But when He got closer, there was no fruit at all. The tree had leaves but nothing to give. Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” The next day the disciples saw that the whole tree had withered from the roots.

That story is not just about a tree. It is about us. Jesus wants real fruit in our lives, not just the look of it. The Father cuts off branches that do not bear fruit, and He prunes the ones that do so they bear even more. Jesus is straight with us. He expects fruit.

What does this fruit look like? The Bible shows it in how we live every day. It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not just nice feelings. They show up in actions. When someone needs help, we give it. When anger rises, we choose peace. When people are lost, we point them to Jesus. Fruit is not just church attendance or looking spiritual on the outside. The fig tree had plenty of leaves. It looked good from far away. But up close it offered nothing. Jesus judged it for that.

Do we live like that fig tree today? We go through the motions. We say the right words and wear the right smile. From a distance we look like strong Christians. But inside there is no real fruit. No changed heart. No love that costs us something. No time spent helping others know God. Jesus notices. He still walks up close and checks for fruit. The withering of the fig tree shows us that empty religion does not last. God wants genuine life flowing from us.

The scary part is what happens when we stay empty. The fig tree withered because it had nothing to offer when the time came. Jesus expects fruit in season. Life brings moments when people around us need spiritual food. A friend loses hope. A neighbor wonders about God. A stranger feels empty inside. They look for something real. If they turn to us, what will they find? Will there be love that listens? Will there be truth from God’s word that gives life? Or will they walk away still hungry because we only had leaves?

The story of the fig tree is a warning but also a hope. Jesus did not leave His disciples confused. Right after the tree withered, He taught them about faith and prayer. He is always near for help to bear fruit. He is ready to supply what we need to bear fruit (2Cor 9:10).

Let us take this seriously. Let us stay connected to the true Vine every single day. When spiritually hungry people look our way, may they find real fruit. May they taste the goodness of God through our lives and want more of Jesus. The world is full of empty trees. Let us be different. Let us be branches full of life that feed those who need it most. This is from God’s word. The choice is ours. Will we bear fruit that lasts?

Agape
spencer

Bearing Fruit unto Holiness

The Preacher Leave a comment

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

The Apostle Paul writes about bearing fruit, comparing our former lives to our new life having been baptized into Christ.

“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:20-23).

In this passage he had reminded the saints in Rome they had died to sin when they were baptized into the death of Christ. “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (vss 2-4).

What does all of this mean for us today? Prior to obeying the gospel the fruit of our shameful lives was leading to death (eternal separation from God Isaiah 59:2). Do you remember Romans chapter one? “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom 1:32). Read that whole chapter and see those shameful things worthy of death. Recall what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth; “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:9-11).

Here’s the comfort: Those who have been baptized into Christ’s death, for the forgiveness of sins, have put on Christ, and have the circumcision of the heart by the working of God, have been set free from sin, and are now on that narrow path that leads to eternal life as servants of God!* We have been washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Agape
Spencer

*Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:11-12; Matthew 7:13-14.