FLOWERS, LEAVES, OR FRUIT?

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 (8^th Edition)

2.    The Holy Bible (NIV)