Lessons From The Garden – Fruit

Given June 2009

Fruit is one of the most important parts of a plant especially in the garden.  If all is done properly, there will be a great harvest of fruit.  It’s the same with Christians.  Here are some points about fruit:

• Plants will produce the same kind of fruit as its parent. “The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12.  This is God’s plan, to reproduce after its own kind.  We, as God’s children, are to be like Him, “.. because as he is so also are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17.
• Plants will produce their fruit when they’re supposed to.  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9.  We can become discouraged by not seeing any immediate results when we pray or “plant a seed”, but when we plant, we are turning it over to God to bring the harvest.  So, hold on in faith and expect the harvest.
• A plant is known by the fruit hanging from its branches.  If a fruit tree doesn’t produce any fruit, that’s bad, (check out what Jesus did about this in Matthew 21: 18-19).  If we are a seed of Jesus, we should be producing the same kind of fruit He did.  How do we do that?  We “abide” in Him; we live in Him; we get our nourishment from Him.   “I am the true vine…Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15: 1,4).

So, when people look at us, do they see any fruit?  Is it good or bad fruit?  “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8.  But one caution, we are not called to be “fruit inspectors” for others.  We each should be cultivating our own fruit.  God told our ancestors in the Garden, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.” Genesis 1:28. How’s your fruit?