Fruit
READ
Matthew 7:15-20, Luke 6:27-36, John 17:25-26
CONSIDER
Just before Jesus warns against doing things in his name without knowing him, he says you can tell a good person from a bad one from the fruit produced by their lives.
To know Jesus like this is to be filled with his love. The evidence of his love is in the fruit produced by your life. The test of that love is not how well you love those who love you. The test of the quality of this fruit is how well you love those who make it difficult...especially when they are people on the other side of the country, the world, or your screen.
REFLECT
Jesus taught in an agrarian culture. It was characterized by growing and harvesting plants. Olives were prevalent. So were grapes and figs. A fig tree can’t produce grapes, and a grape vine can’t produce figs. Not permanently. Not even occasionally.
What kind of fruit is your life producing? Is it good fruit? Is it love?
You were made to be filled with the love of Jesus. If you are pulling your nutrients from his soil, the fruit will be good. If you are pulling your nutrients from the soil of the world, your fruit will be bad.
The test, once again, is how you love those who are hard to love.
PRAY
Holy Spirit, tend to my soil. Keep it rich so the nutrients I draw are filled with the love of Jesus. Produce in my life fruit that allows me to echo the psalmist, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” Amen.