PRODUCING FRUIT THAT DOESN’T SPOIL

Fruit That’s Never Out of Season

“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8 (CSB)

As Christians, we will be recognized by the fruit that we bear. So what does it mean to “bear fruit?”

In Jeremiah 17:7-8, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (NIV)

The fruit we produce in our lives comes from our attitudes, actions, and our view of God and who He is. 

Consider the fruits that Paul used to describe Jesus in the following verses: 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important as yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

“For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” Galatians 5:22-23

“If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:10

I recently heard a pastor say, “What if the way that God loved us depended on how we love others?

How do your attitudes, actions, and views of God compare with these descriptions of Jesus? 

From “The Forge” Bible study book, “To live in a way that honors and emulates Christ, we must take His Word and ask Him to transform every area of our lives by His Spirit. As we do, our characteristics won’t necessarily compare with His, but His character will actually be lived out in our lives.” 

To keep the fruit that we bear from ruin we must be grounded in God’s Word, His Truth. It’s easy to become complacent in our time with God. Life is busy, we work, and we take care of our kids and our family. There will always be demands that will consume us if we allow it. 

But making special time with God every day and striving to read and understand His Word is key to finding purpose and peace in our lives. And the knowledge we gain will help us to bear fruit that will glorify God. 

Father, we ask that you will continue to shape our lives and the fruits that we bear more and more into the image of Jesus. Help us to remain diligent in pursuing the purpose You have for us through Your Word. And that we glorify You in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Forge Bible Study, pg.25. (2024). Lifeway Press.

All of Today’s Scriptures are from the CSB & the NIV