How can I know if I’m bearing fruit?

I gotta be honest.

I’m a big art fan, yet still-life painting has never quite appealed to me.

I appreciate still-lives for what they are, they just don't keep my attention for long. Don’t get me wrong, I see the talent in them. They simply don't strike a chord with me is all.

The above still-life from Vincent van Gogh is a rare exception. Not only that, it also serves as a great way to introduce today’s topic.

Fruit!

Abiding’s End Result

Yesterday we talked about abiding; now it’s time to talk about what happens next… The bearing of fruit.

Jesus was, of course, being poetic when He spoke of us bearing fruit. He was looking to something other than apples, pears, and grapes.

Jesus is talking about spiritual fruit.

We can understand spiritual fruit as the positive qualities and character traits that reflect the person and teachings of Jesus. Abiding, according to Jesus, produces such things. 

So now the big question.

How do we know if we’re being fruitful?

Fruits of the Spirit

I’d like to direct your attention, dear reader, to Galatians 5v22-23.

What we have here is the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, summarizing the natural products of a fruitful life:

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

• Patience

• Kindness

• Generosity

• Faithfulness

• Gentleness

• Self-control

A life in which these things are present is a life that bears fruit.

God desires each person to display these fruits, and a life of abiding in Him will naturally produce them.

So, ask yourself, are the fruits of the Spirit present in your life?

Remember not to set the bar so high for yourself. None of us do it perfectly. We all need grace.

Following Jesus is a process and, like any fruit tree, it takes time for the fruit to get really good. Every little amount of growth is a beautiful reason to rejoice in the changing grace of God.

So allow yourself the time. Seek Jesus each day, and allow Him to change you.

The process is important. We’ll conclude this week’s discussion by talking about just that.

For now, be blessed.

Jon

Theophilus Newsletter