Show Your Fruit

Given November 8, 2008

As I went out and about running errands for my wife this morning, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I was a representative of God.  And, as His rep, I was to conduct myself in such a way as to make the boss look good.  If I was rude to the associate at the cell phone store, (like the lady next to me was), it would be a bad witness for Christians as many people know I am one.  But, how do people know we are Christians without us wearing a sign? ( Here’s Your Sign).  I submit we must show our fruit.

Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8.  Notice Jesus said, “showing yourselves to be my disciples”.  So, if we’re bearing fruit, it should show, we shouldn’t hide it.  Now, you know there are Christians who have a lot of leaves but upon closer scrutiny, you find no fruit.

Remember the story of the poor old fig tree?  I used to feel sorry for that tree but Jesus wanted us to learn a lesson here.   “Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered” Matthew 21: 18-19.  From a distance, (in the church pew, etc.), that tree looked good but when Jesus examined it  more closely, He found it lacking.  When He put it to the snack test, when He made demands on it to perform as it was created, it failed.  And what happened to it?  Jesus spoke to it and it withered, leaves and all!

Jesus won’t wither us when we fail to perform as we were created.  He shows us mercy and grace.  If you have compromised your faith recently, hidden your fruit, or haven’t even taken care of your roots, repent and let God prune you, (ouch!), so your fruit will flourish and people will see that you are one of His.