You Will Know Them by Their Fruits.
I know what you’re thinking even before you say it. “There’s one of those short little giraffes.”
Or, you may have thought, “I can’t stand those little critters. They’re everywhere, always running around the backyard, getting in the way.”
Maybe even, “Better watch the chickens. I’ve heard when giraffes are running around, they’ll chase and eat your chickens.”
No? You don’t have those thoughts when you see that image?
Of course not. We know a few things about giraffes.
- They are not short animals. Giraffes are the world’s tallest living land animals. They grow to around eighteen feet.
- You will not likely find a giraffe in your backyard. The live primarily in Africa.
- A giraffe will not steal and eat your chickens. Giraffes only eat plants.1
You may not immediately entertain these well-known giraffe facts upon seeing their face, but you inherently know them, which keeps you from thinking the opposite.
The same can be said for fruit-bearing trees. Peach trees bear peaches. Apple trees bear apples, and so on. When you see an apple tree, you do not expect peaches. The Bible writers apply similar imagery when teaching about our actions.
Matthew tells us, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, NASB)
We’re not trees and we’re not giraffes. We are people. And, much like trees and giraffes, we were designed to be a certain way and produce a certain fruit. Two references help us with this.
Good fruit is produced by the Holy Spirit. We can look to Galatians 5:22-23 to recognize the fruit. The fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That’s a high bar, isn’t it? Like I’ve often said in my posts, “Sure is, if we had to do it on our own.” But we don’t.
Striving to meet the expectations of bearing all that fruit, all the time can be daunting.
It’s similar to a footnote in my Bible referring to Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31 describes a woman of excellence. She is amazing! So amazing, the footnote says, “This lofty portrait of excellence sets such a high standard that it can be depressing to godly women today until its purpose is understood.”
It goes on to describe the purpose as “character of wisdom recommended throughout this book (referring to Proverbs),” and “the profile is an ideal; a particular example of full-scale virtue and wisdom toward which the faithful are willing to be molded.” Proverbs is a book all about developing a relationship with God, so that we become wise. We may not reflect every instruction, but we are willing to be molded. (ESV)
We cannot produce fruit from the Holy Spirit on our own.
Jesus tells us in the book of John, we have to rely on Him.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV)
When we spend time with God, allowing Him to mold us and relate to us, we begin to bear His fruit. It’s not ours anyway! Why should we try to produce it on our own?
I pray when someone sees you, they recognize right away, not only the fruit you produce, but the giver of the fruit—Jesus.
What can you do today to ensure that happens with you?
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits. #hope #joy #writingcommunity Share on XToday’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
