Which Kind Of Fruit Are You?

"In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."" Matthew 21:18-22 (NLT)

Like Jerusalem, we are given so many opportunities:

1. To be fruitful.
2. To show our faith.
3. Be faithful to the Lord.
4. And to live a life that blesses others to the Fathers glory.

But opportunities are not forever. God calls us to reflect his character and grace. But the problem lies within us. It lies within the very core of our hearts. Many christians fail to reflect His character and grace. They're too busy. They're tied up with many things. Maybe, they don't want to.

When we don't reflect his character and grace, and this refusal and neglect become habitual, God will give us opportunities to repent and change our actions. Isn't that great! He's a compassionate God! He's a kind God! He's a great God! He wants to have a "relationship" with each of us. He wants to restore a broken one. He wants to forgive.

But there comes a time when we must change or judgment comes. If we are truly connected to Jesus, if we are truly his disciples, we will bear fruit that reflects his character. The Spirit will help make sure of this. Our love for the Savior will call us to this. Our friends in Christ will encourage this. But ultimately, we must decide that Jesus is Lord and is worthy of our life's commitment to him!

So what kind of fruit are you reflecting? What kind of people are you in the church? I am talking about Christians but this does apply to those who haven't committed their lives to the Lord:

1. PLASTIC PEOPLE (fake, plastic fruit that sits on the table for decoration): it is hard, it only shines on the outside, it is hollow inside, there's no life in plastics. This type of people shows their stubbornness, hard-hearted, and refusal to take in the Lord's message and repent from their sins. No matter how hard you try and admonish, encourage, instruct, rebuke, correct and train a fellow Christian, they remain a hard vessel before God, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,.." 2 Timothy 3:16 (niv)

Then there are peel people in the church:

2. PEEL PEOPLE (picture a banana peel sitting on your dish without a banana): it's only the surface of the real thing! They are two-faced type of people who loves the world and loves God, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Matthew 6:24 (nas) They are not deep Christians. They don't go into the depth of God's Word and allow God to work in the depth of our lives and hearts.

Time after time and with prayers, you work with a fellow Christian by encouraging him/her to live the life of Christ and His faithfulness to us so that we can pour our God's faithfulness among others through our example. But the example may not be the example God wants us to portray. When we live a Christian life on the surface of His Word, i.e.: we understand bits and pieces of God's commands, we're portraying only a peel. Would people in the world eat a peel of fruit? I don't think so. They haven't tasted the goodness of the Lord, "now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:3 (niv)

Now, the REAL THING,

3. THE PRODUCE: (picture yourselves in your local supermarket seeing and smelling a fresh smorgasbard of fruits): Christians drool over Christians whose heart loves the Lord and loves to obey His commands, who portrays the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), who serves and do the divine will of God. They are the real thing. They are what God sees having an attitude of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). They are delicous, juicy, fruity, and healthy. There's life in the produce, the life of Christ whereas there's death and destruction in the plastic and peel.

So what kind of fruit are you? Plastic? Peel? Or the real thing, Produce. If you see yourselves as a plastic or a peel, God gives us all an opportunity to come to Him and confess our sins, repent from our evil ways (hardness of heart and surface of our service). If you haven't given your lives to the Lord in baptism, I strongly encourage you to study the Bible with your local minister with the churches of Christ (deaf or hearing).

Go back to the verse at the beginning of this blog (Matthew 21:18-22), we will all stand before Jesus, someday (judgment), and if He doesn't find any fruitfulness, the real thing, the produce in us, He will rebuke us and make us wither away. Not that Jesus wants to do this but He is just and fair, "For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." Romans 14:10 (niv) Think about this! Just as God loves those in the world, so do I! It's, with great privilege, to share you the good news that God is able to forgive those who changes their hearts and their ways! Be fruitful!! Let's multiply!

(My family and I will be on vacation this week so will not be able to blog until after the 17th. Enjoy the week, bloggers, and thanks!)