Called To Bear Fruit
Jul 11th, 2008 by David
Jesus said, “Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” - Matthew 7:17
Gardening is not one of my strengths. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to plants, and I certainly don’t have a green thumb. Yet I’ve found that I don’t have to be an expert to know certain basics. For example, I don’t look for apples to grow on a cherry tree. When I see an apple, I know it comes from an apple tree; when I see cherries, I know they come from a cherry tree.
In short, without being an expert, I can easily see that certain trees only produce certain types of fruit, and, conversely, that certain fruits only come from certain types of trees.
Jesus said to the crowd that had gathered around him, “Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” He went on to offer what logically follows: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” I suspect that Jesus used that metaphor, at least in part, because everyone could understand it.
Just as we can tell the type of tree by the fruit it produces, so God can tell what we are really like by the lives we lead. What’s more, other people can tell as well. Other people, or course, only see the fruit of our lives; they are left to infer the type of tree from which it comes.
What do people think when they look at your life? What kind of fruit do they find? What will they infer about the tree from which it comes? Will they want to be that kind of tree themselves?
Even good trees, of course, have some bad fruit. Some of the fruit is attacked by insects or birds, some falls to the ground prematurely. The orchard owner knows that, and is forgiving. God forgives us, too. However, God, like the owner of the orchard, does everything possible to enable the fruit trees to produce good fruit. What kind of fruit are you producing?
Bringing It Home:
1. Just as the orchard owner does all that he can to enable the trees in the orchard to produce good fruit, so God provides means to help us produce good fruit. One of those means is the Bible. How are you doing when it comes to spending time with God’s Word? If you’re not already doing so, can you start this week with a plan to read a portion of the Bible every day?
2. Another means that God gives us to enhance our fruitfulness is the gift of Christian community. Are you an active participant in a Christian community?
Prayer:
Gracious God, you call us to bear good fruit. Help me to be a good tree. By your Holy Spirit strengthen and sustain me that I might bear good fruit for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Dave Hanson
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wheaton, IL
www.holycrosswheaton.org
