Are You Bearing Fruit?

This is the question we’re confronted with when we enter Revelation 22. Pictured there is fruitful tree being watered by the river of life.

Christ came and lived a life free from sin and ruin so you could. Now if you’re sailing your ship by blowing your own breath on the sails, you won’t go far. In fact, you probably won’t make it anywhere. You might as well power the Titanic with a table fan. It sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? But we’re tempted to do that every day. We think we know it all. We buck at the prospect that we need help. If you’re an introvert, this is especially challenging for you.

The truth is we desperately need help.

Consider this. A tree bears fruit, but not just by existing. Weather has its influence. Fall gives birth to seed. Winter brings a metamorphosis to the bud that spring reveals with the emergence of fruit.

Life has its seasons as well. You will have times of growth and harvest. Don’t discount these times. When it seems nothing is happening, seeds may be growing and becoming ready to bloom for a warmer season of life. If you’re always investing in growing your fruit, you’ll have an incredible harvest later.

But, just like the fruit on the tree, you need water to survive.

The water comes from others investing in you. It also comes from time in the Word and prayer. These are disciplines you have to grab to benefit from. And be sure to share your God-given blessings with others. Then you’ll water them and they can bear fruit too.

Jesus was an example of what it looks like to mentor others. He regularly taught those around Him. He took special care to invest in twelve men who later grew into great men who took the Gospel to the known world. They weren’t perfect but they grew into fruit-bearing disciples God used. They had strengths God amplified and weaknesses He minimized.

The important thing in fruit bearing is to seek it with the aim of glorifying God. God is sovereign and throughout history has used nonbelievers to accomplish His purposes. But if you know Him, won’t you acknowledge that you’re on the same side and work with Him?

Christian growth comes in community. Invest in yours, pray fervently, and leave the results to God. You’ll see fruit.