I live in Arizona, and the citrus fruits are abundant at this time of year. Our 4 citrus trees are loaded - 3 orange trees and one tangelo tree. We also have what is left of a chopped down lemon tree - a few fresh branches sprouting up, with one lonely lemon on it! Reminds me of several Bible verses.
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’" Luke 13:1-9 NIV
The fruit that is spoken of in this verse is about repentance as stated right before the parable: "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Jesus is speaking about all people being sinners, and about all sin causing the same outcome: death. Well, apparently our lemon tree would not even be stopped by being chopped down - it has sprouted up again and born more fruit. Just makes me remember that we should never give up on other people or ourselves either, no matter what the sin or how many times we fall, even if we flounder around, separated from God, the Holy Spirit can still work wonders and fertilize faith again, leading to the fruit of repentance. And that can only continue to grow if we remain faithful in God:
“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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1-8 NIV
The "fruit" is about living a Godly life. The Holy Spirit creates faith and out of that grows Christian virtues, and apart from God we cannot produce truly good fruit that is pleasing in his eyes. Sometimes we can be led astray by people who sound virtuous, but if we look at the whole picture, at what they create and whether what they are doing leads to God or detracts from God and his power, we will know if it is good or bad 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 NIV
The Bible speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, what are often called Christian virtues. These are the things for which we strive to produce with his help:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galations 5:22-25 NIV
My prayer therefore is that we remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit, thankful for his forgiveness when we fall, and fruitful for the Lord!
Written by Jan A.
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