Our works. The things we say and do. We all bear this fruit. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11) Fellow believers, whether you like it or not, you are a fruit bearing Christian. It could be good fruit or bad. We become known by the kind of fruit we bear in front of others. Check out these kinds of fruit I came up with from scripture, and do a spiritual checkup with God! See if there are any areas you need to “sweeten your fruit”.
…for the tree is known by his fruit.
Matthew 12:33
Bitter Fruit
Nobody likes bitter fruit. When you buy strawberries, blueberries, or grapes you want them to be sweet. Bitter fruit leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Literally. It makes you not want to go back for more.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
James 3:14-15
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.
When we harbor bitterness or envy in our hearts, we give place to the devil.
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Ecclesiastes 7:26
When we strive with others, and serve ourselves rather than serving God and serving others this is sinful.
Seeded Fruit
You know that feeling when you eat grapes or any other fruit with seeds, and you have to spit out the seeds and try to enjoy the fruit around them? It’s not nearly as enjoyable as a piece of seedless fruit. This is our life when we try to live right, and we produce good works, but we also make poor choices and produce bad fruit.
Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.
Deuteronomy 22:9
When we are saved, and Christ is living in us, we should strive to produce good fruit. This means sowing good seeds in our lives. If we sow seeds to the flesh we will reap of the flesh. I think I read that somewhere before…
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:8
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:10
Rotten Fruit
When we have rottenness in our hearts, we will produce rotten fruit. The words that come out of us will be mean. The attitude we portray to others will be unpleasant. Our actions will not reflect the life of Christ when we harbor sinfulness in our hearts. Have you purged/pruned the fruit tree that is your heart lately?
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luke 6:45
We must regularly confess and ask God to forgive our shortcomings. We all have them. We just have to remember not to harbor sin in our lives. Get it out as soon as you realize it’s there, so the one rotten apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch!
Sweet Fruit
When we love others, and share Christ with them we bear sweet fruit. Our fruit will be sweet to others and to God.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2 Corinthians 2:15
Everybody wants to be loved. When we give selflessly, and care for others we show them love. Loving others is the number one commandment we are given when it comes to living the Christian life. It is how we prove our salvation, both to ourselves, and how we show God’s love towards others.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John 2:10