FLOWERS, LEAVES, OR
FRUIT?
Mark 11:12-14 “The next day as they were leaving
Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went
to find out if it had any fruit. When He reached it, He found nothing but
leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then He said to the tree, ‘May
no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And His disciples heard Him say it.
One question, can you recognize every
fruit you see just from its flower or leaf? I don’t think so. Maybe verrrryyyyy
few familiar ones.
The
dictionary definition of a fruit is ‘the part of a plant that consists of one
or more seeds and flesh, can be eaten as food and usually tastes sweet.’
Ever
wonder why Jesus says in Matthew 7:20 that “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize
them”? Why by their fruit? Why not by their leaves, or their flowers?
Hold that thought.
Its obvious that God wants to eat from
my life. He has invested so much in my life. (Isaiah 5:1-6) Am I bearing fruit
for His glory? Since He has invested so much in me, I really don’t have an
excuse not to bear fruit for His glory. And if God’s glory cannot be seen
in/through my life, then I am but wasting His investment in my life and
therefore He has the right to cut me off.
What do people see when they look at
me from the outside? When Jesus sighted the tree, it looked very healthy and
was full of leaves. But until he drew close did He realize that it bore no
fruit. Then He cursed it because of its fruitlessness.
I must not settle for carrying just
leaves and flowers and bearing no fruit because then will Jesus cut me off. In John
15:1-8, it says that to show that I am a disciple of Christ, I must bear MUCH
fruit. When I bear fruit for Christ, He in turn does a work of pruning me which
in turn enables me to bear much more fruit.
But then, HOW do I bear much fruit?
Its simple.
Remain and abide in the vine; Jesus. Because
apart from Him I can do absolutely nothing! (John 15:5)
I
must allow Him to prune me, no matter how painful it will be or how long it
will take. The end result will be continuous fruitfulness.
My
abiding in Him should be daily and constant. I must never think that I can bear
fruit without Jesus as the vine.
WHAT type of fruit am I to bear?
God expects me to bear good fruit to His glory. Galatians
5:22-23 outlines various examples; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
Goodness, faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. When my lifestyle is
daily patterned after Jesus Christ, the fruits will show. When I take on the
challenge of the Great Commission, bringing people to God’s kingdom, I am
bearing fruit. When others seek to please and serve God because of my lifestyle,
I am bearing good fruit. It goes on and on!
God wants to eat from my life. But the thing
right now is, flowers, leaves, or fruit? Which one am I carrying? And if I am
carrying fruit, am I carrying good or bad fruit?
Hold that thought.
REFERENCES:
1.
OXFORD
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (8th Edition)
2.
The
Holy Bible (NIV)
